A wonderful day was had when I met Vladimir Smirnov and his family yesterday in the Scottish Borders. A good number of local historical sites were visited, lunch and some friendly and informative ‘brick’ chat too. The highlight of the day for me was Vladimir’s unexpected, yet most generous gift of a ‘Bonnyrigg Patent’ brick he had found some years ago in St Petersburg, Russia. As far as we are aware no such examples have been recorded yet in Scotland. It is believed this brick was manufactured at the Bonnyrigg Fireclay Works, Bonnyrigg, Mid Lothian, Scotland although the exact location for these works is still unconfirmed.
This was Vladimir’s first visit to Scotland and as he was staying in Edinburgh, a nice relevant brick momento was found to mark the occasion. Apart from the brick, Vladimir, his wife Tatyana and son Daniel, brought some other lovely gifts including a very unique brick inspired, printed cushion made by Tatyana.
A great visit and one we hope to reciprocate at some point in the future.
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The following bricks are in a collection owned by Josh Bra. They were recovered from an old garden path at a house in Chinchen Street, Islington, New South Wales. . . . Below – Gartcraig – Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. Below – Glenboig – Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include:…
The following bricks were found by Vladimir Smirnov near Perm, Russian. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire . Below – BCM/Thistle. Below – Thistle.
Found by Larie Sam M. Yanga in the backyard of a house at San Enrique Negros Occidental, Philippines. . . . . Below – Gartcraig – Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow.
These ‘P & M Hurll, Glasgow’ bricks were photographed by Harry Hughes at the Widow Sammons House, Carrowkennedy, Republic of Ireland. Note the reversed letter ‘S’. The owner of the house said the bricks were on the floor. He has reused the old bricks to form a hearth for a stove. This is a link…
This brick was found by Syeeba Medina Azza in an abandoned fortress at Oranje Nassau near Banjarbaru City, Kalimantan. This fortress was built in 1849. . . . Below – Patent R. Brown & Son, Paisley – Robert Brown & Son, Ferguslie Fireclay Works, Paisley, Renfrewshire
The following brick was found on the south Bank of Tagus at Cacilhas, Lisbon, Portugal by Rui Ribolhos, Lisbon, Portugal. Empatia Arqueologia LDA. There were many shipyards in this vicinity. . . . Below – Forth – Roughcastle Firebrick Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire.
Found in the Hudson Valley in New York, USA by Hunter Cantrell. Note the Glenboig ‘star’ trademark under the ‘N’ of Glenboig. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire .
Many thanks to Colin Rogers for the following information and photographs. This white enamelled sink stamped J & R H Ltd, was found in Montevideo, Uruguay by Colin’s wife, Sonsoles Baison. Colin states – Part of the stamp says “Made in Britain” and in Spanish “aprobado por A.N.D.A.” which means approved by Anda. There is…
This ‘Muir’ stamped brick was found by Gustavo Coronel and Leonardo Brizuela at a lime kiln at Barrio, Montevideo, Argentina. As this is a fire brick it was possibly manufactured at the Boghead Brick and Fireclay Company, Bathgate sometime between 1898 and c. 1928 when Messrs Muir operated the works. . . . . ….
This brick was found by Gustavo Agustin Coronel. It was found at a lime kiln, Hornos Fabrica No 4 in Malagueño, Córdoba, Argentina. Below – Etna Great Britain fire brick. Etna Brickworks, Armadale, West Lothian. Alternative brickworks include: West Works, Armadale, West Lothian. . . . .
