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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Terrence Honore of the Palmiste Historical Society states – It was found at the former Palmiste sugarcane estate at Palmiste San Fernando Trinidad. Site of an old brick bridge for use by trains transporting sugarcane circa the 1800s. Allan & Mann, Port Eglinton, Glasgow Alternative brickworks include: Rutherglen Pottery, Glasgow. Mallsmire Works, Myrtle Park, Crosshill,…
Many thanks to Daphne Lim for the following information and photographs. Rawyards Glasgow and Hurll bricks found in Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo. Daphne states – My name is Daphne Lim & I live in Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo. My (maternal) great, great grandfather Mr Chan Kho was one of the founding fathers of this small town of…
Many thanks to Shayne Campbell, President & Executive Director Settlers, Rials & Trails – Argyle Museum, for permission to use the photographs of their Scottish bricks. The following bricks are in the possession of the Argyle Museum, Winnipeg, Canada. The bricks were obtained from a junkyard in Winnipeg and are believed to have been salvaged…
This brick is in the possession of Leslie White and was found in the Hawkesbury (NSW) region during a demolition job. Douglas Fireclay Works, Dalry, Ayrshire. Note the unusual stencilling. It possibly reads ‘I R S26 3″. So was this added at the Douglas Fireclay Works as perhaps an order number, code for the customer…
These bricks are housed within the Nevada State Museum and Carson City Mint, Carson City, Nevada, USA. Photographs were forwarded by Daniel Camacho. Heatheryknowe Colliery & Fire Clay Works, Bargeddie, Glasgow . . . . Below – The museum describes the brick as – Refractory brick (clay). High silica firebrick was imported from Glasgow, Scotland….
These photographs were forwarded by Marleni Almonte. The bricks were found at an old house in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. The house is believed to have been constructed sometime in the 1700s and was first occupied by a Spanish owner. (The Scottish brick is a later addition to this timeline). The bricks are being housed…
Many thanks to Chantal Soucy and Jean-Marie Fallu for the following photographs. These Scottish bricks were found on the Beach of Barachois, Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec, Canada. The bricks were found near two old sawmills erected around the beginning of 1900 by the Sherbrooke Lumber Co. and the Calhoun Lumber Co. There are still remnants of…
These bricks were found by Gustavo Coronel. Gustavo states – I am communicating with you for the purposes of a new find of CALDER bricks, produced in another of the lime kilns in the City of Malagueño, this is the largest kiln in the entire Province of Córdoba. It is located in Barrio Montevideo and…
This brick was found by nine-year-old Hayden Callahan in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada. This is a fantastic example as I am unaware of any brick with a similar stamp being found. The manufacturer is unknown but what can be seen of the stamp would suggest it was manufactured in Scotland. Hayden’s mum, Kelly Crossman states –…
Found in Riverton, New Zealand. The photograph and information were forwarded by Cedric Trounson. Cedric states – “Riverton is the second oldest European settlement in NZ and this brick was found where an early immigrant house had been built from maybe the 1840s. This was an early sealing and whaling settlement” . . . Below …
