Abstract: A lining brick for forming a refractory lining includes a hot side surface, a shell side surface opposite the hot side surface, a pair of spaced opposite hearing surfaces, a pair of spaced opposite butt surfaces, and recesses opening onto the shell side surface. The recesses are formed only in the spaced opposite bearing surfaces or in the spaced opposite butt surfaces. Each recess has a first side opening onto the shell side surface and a second side opening onto the respective butt or bearing surface. Each recess is defined by a surface portion having a first end terminating at the shell side surface and a second end terminating at the respective butt or bearing surface. The total area of the first ends of all of the recesses that lie in the plane of the shell side surface is less than the area of the shell side surface.