Heart wrenched after finding this in a house we just purchased. What is this?

[Lloydy1975]

That timber going into the wall next to the cracking is a purlin, does the cracking/movement continue on past down to the left of it?

If it does that might indicate the roof is spreading and you might want to consider putting in some timber (might just be some collar ties) to tie the rafters on either side together and prevent further spreading.

If it’s all fine beneath then potentially someone just got a bit enthusiastic during the chimney breast removal and the bricky can make good again

The area bellow doesn’t have any separation at all but the mortar looks slightly disturbed with the same pattern following thorough on the bricks, but again these are not large gaps and are more hairline. Hopefully you can see this clearly and get a better idea. Thank you so much!

 

[Gothichome]

Built in the 50’s, hummmmm. Those bricks looked like Victorian soft bricks. Guess not, just seconds not to be seen. Any idea what the black line is, to me it looks like a void where a timber was once located. Yes an on site bricklayer will should be able to give better info. I hope they don’t raise any flags.

 

[Lloydy1975]

Built in the 50’s, hummmmm. Those bricks looked like Victorian soft bricks. Guess not, just seconds not to be seen. Any idea what the black line is, to me it looks like a void where a timber was once located. Yes an on site bricklayer will should be able to give better info. I hope they don’t raise any flags.

The black line going up is where the chimney was, it has now been removed and a gallows bracket has been installed. I think as the house was built in 1950 they used a mix of bricks, as there are imperial and a different type on brick being used in different areas. I don’t know if this helps? But thank you in any case

 

[Gothichome]

 

[Lloydy1975]

Thank you for your time and help, it’s much appreciated

 

[stuart45]

The bricks are mainly LBC commons. They used to be really cheap back then, but are quite expensive nowadays. There's a few face bricks mixed in, but the chimney stack will be all face bricks as it comes out of the roof.The
It's quite common to see a few cracks in the party walls, especially with cement mortar.

 

[Lloydy1975]

The bricks are mainly LBC commons. They used to be really cheap back then, but are quite expensive nowadays. There's a few face bricks mixed in, but the chimney stack will be all face bricks as it comes out of the roof.The
It's quite common to see a few cracks in the party walls, especially with cement mortar.

Thank you, I believe you’re correct. There’s a distinct difference between the internal and external bricks. I’ve got a bricklayer coming tomorrow to have a look and see if it needs seeing to. Thank you for your help.

 

[stuart45]

The face bricks are probably LBC Fletton bricks as well, the only difference is that they have a face on one side and the ends. The majority of houses built on large estates back then through to the 80's were built with Flettons.
The old clay pits are now full of Great Created Newts.

 

[Lloydy1975]

The face bricks are probably LBC Fletton bricks as well, the only difference is that they have a face on one side and the ends. The majority of houses built on large estates back then through to the 80's were built with Flettons.
The old clay pits are now full of Great Created Newts.

Interesting fact, I grew up in Peterborough were the LBC bricks were fabricated in Fletton. Thanks for the help today, it’s much appreciated.

 

[stuart45]

I wouldn't worry too much about that crack. The chippies might have done it when they stuck the purlin in. There's no weight on the top to hold the brickwork if they had to cut into it. Looks like a few bricks were wedged in later.

 

[a twig]

Would be inclined to agree, below and to the left of the purlin looks fine, so don’t think there is anything worrying with the roof structure, if it annoys you cosmetically then it would be a fairly quick job for a bricky to tidy up or you can just keep the loft hatch shut and not think about it