If you have visited our Shirley branch recently, you may have noticed something a little unexpected in the entrance. Not a display of paving slabs or a stack of building materials, but a full size brick throne.
The throne was built over two days by TwinsBuild, the bricklaying duo behind one of the most talked about entries at the SuperTrowel Masters Competition 2026. Twin brothers Jonny and George McFarlane from Derbyshire, aged 22, both passionate about bricklaying and both very much responsible for the impressive structure now sitting at the entrance to EH Smith Shirley.
"We've been laying bricks for seven years now. We really enjoy bricklaying and more than anything we enjoy the detail work which is what inspires us to do builds like this."
~ Jonny McFarlane
We documented the entire build across the two days, from the first brick to the finished throne. Watch the full timelapse and hear from Jonny and George themselves in the video below, and if you want to follow their work, you can find TwinsBuild social profiles below.
The inspiration behind the Brick Throne
Every great build starts with an idea, and this one started with a friend.
The year before the 2026 SuperTrowel Masters Competition, TwinsBuild's good friend and fellow bricklayer Dean Hayward won the competition with a brick table. The twins saw it and thought, well, he needs a chair to go with it. And so, the throne was created.
It went on to claim second place in the Masters Competition, one of the most prestigious categories in UK bricklaying. For two 22-year-olds who have been laying bricks for seven years and whose speciality is decorative and detail work, it was a moment that reflected everything they have put into their craft.
SuperTrowel and EH Smith
SuperTrowel is the UK's premier bricklaying competition, celebrating the skill, craft and creativity of bricklayers across the country. EH Smith were proud to sponsor the Midlands Regional heat and have our CEO, John Cave, as one of the Master’s Judges. John saw the throne and just knew it has to be recreated at an EH Smith branch to showcase the skills and craftmanship of what can be achieved with brick.
Over two days, and with plenty of curious customers and suppliers asking whether it was a barbecue, the throne took shape again in our entrance yard, and eventually those questions turned to ‘can I have one in my garden?’.
The EH Smith Shirley Brick Throne
Building the throne for a third time gave the brothers the chance to refine and make changes during the build. At SuperTrowel the arms were built entirely in buff bricks - at Shirley they introduced a mix with reds, giving it a richer, more characterful finish. They also added bullnose bricks to the seat this time around, which as they put it, makes it considerably more comfortable to sit on.
Working together as twins on a build like this is not something most people could manage, but for TwinsBuild it has always been natural. "To be honest I think because we share the same passion and it is all we have known, we have never really been apart from each other." - George
That shared instinct shows in their work.
"It has been a bit steadier here," the brothers noted during the build. "We have been able to take our time, and it has been nice to not be under a load of pressure from the clock."
And there is one detail that is easy to miss but impossible not to appreciate once you know it is there. Cut into the base of the seat is the lettering EH, a nod to EH Smith and the branch where the throne now lives.
Building the Throne
Ask TwinsBuild what the hardest part of the build is and the answer is immediate. The marking and setting out. Get that wrong and everything that follows is wrong too. The arch presents its own challenges, as does the capping, which has a tendency to snap under the pressure of cutting and requires a careful hand and a precise eye.
"The most challenging part is of course the arch, but also the bullnose as they are not always the same size so you have to lean towards what is better for the eye rather than level wise." - Jonny
There is also a detail that most people will never notice. The base of the throne is laid in Flemish bond, hidden beneath the seat and out of sight. It is there because it should be there, not because anyone will see it. That attitude tells you a great deal about how TwinsBuild approach their work.
What Bricks Can Do
The throne is a reminder of something worth saying out loud: bricks are one of the most versatile and expressive building materials there is. In the right hands they can become almost anything, as TwinsBuild have proven rather spectacularly.
On what a build like this says about brickwork as a material, the brothers are clear: "This shows only the entry to what is possible with brickwork. There is endless potential in what can be created and crafted, and we need more people to realise this in the trade."
And for anyone considering bricklaying as a career, Jonny has a simple message: "Never stop trying to learn and gain as much knowledge as possible. Never be afraid to try something new. We have learnt most of what we know from being keen, wanting to understand the craft and being passionate about it. So, if there is something I can pass on, it is this: just have a go. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, because it is the only way you will learn."
At EH Smith we stock one of the widest brick ranges in the UK, with over 2,000 bricks available across facing bricks, engineering bricks, special shaped bricks and decorative options. Whether you are building an extension, brick matching existing brickwork or, yes, considering something a little more ambitious, our team are on hand to help you find the right brick for the job. We would like to thank Johnny and Geroge for their time and enthusiasm during the two-day build. Also, thank you to our suppliers Keystone Lintels for donating the specialist lintel needed for the seat and Wienerberger for donating the special shaped bricks.
What comes next for the Twins?
TwinsBuild are already thinking about their next SuperTrowel entry. They are not giving anything away, but they did let one thing slip: there will be EH Smith bricks in there, and that "You will know it is ours when you see it."
We cannot wait!
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