Bricklayers

The Operative Society of Bricklayers was formed in 1829 and joined the Operative Builders' Union in 1831. It survived that union's collapse in 1834, but in 1848 divisions led to a split into two separate unions: the Operative Bricklayers' Society, also called the London Order, and the Friendly Operative Bricklayers' Trade Protection Society, which went through several name changes but was commonly known as the Manchester Order or Manchester Unity.

In 1921, these two societies reunited when they amalgamated with the Operative Society of Masons, Quarrymen and Allied Trades of England and Wales to form the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers. In 1971, this amalgamated with the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers and Painters to form the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers, Painters and Builders, which was renamed the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) five months later. UCATT merged with Unite in 2017.

The records contain genealogical information for the following unions:

• Operative Bricklayers' Society (1862-1920)
• Manchester Unity of Operative Bricklayers' Society (1867-1921)
• Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers (1921-1971)