What are these brackets in the ends of walls for?

[jmaxwell]

You see them all over the place. Are they the ends of reinforcing bars or something like that?

 

[JohnD]

it's an attempt to prevent the end brick falling off the end.

 

[motorbiking]

Its stops the last brick from being chipped off. The end brick is weaker because its only joined on one side.

 

[Nige F]

They are frame ties - as said to reinforce the end brick.

 

[jmaxwell]

Is this the proper way to do it?

 

[stuart45]

You could get some more decorative cramps in the past, but I have not seen any around for a long time.