Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

Photographed by Andrew Pettitt on South Georgia Island (Just North of Antarctica). Boghead Fireclay Works, Bathgate, West Lothian. . . . .

Many thanks to Aysen Demirkurt for the following information. The bricks in the photograph below form a step in the “The Women’s Library and Information Centre” in Istanbul, Turkey. The photograph has been turned on its side so the brick names can be read more easily. They read from top to bottom Scotia – The…

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. . . . . ….

The following bricks are in the possession of Boris Talpa, Rostov on Don, Russia. They were found in the Vladivostok and Primorye area of Eastern Russia. . . Below – Glenyards – Glenyards Fireclay Works, Glenyards, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. Note the thumbprint to top right. Below – Boghead – Boghead Fireclay Works, Bathgate, West Lothian. ….

These bricks were found by Paul McCullum and his son, Sam, on the banks of the East River, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada. . . . . Below – Gartcraig – Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . Below – Boghead, Glasgow – Boghead Fireclay Works, Bathgate, West Lothian. Below – Hurll 4 – Garnqueen Fireclay…

Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. Boghead Fireclay Works, Bathgate, West Lothian. . . . . Below – A similar stamp on a curved brick found by Ian Suddaby in the Winchburgh area. Below – Top brick below  – A very similar stamp on a side arch fire brick. Found by Ian Suddaby…

These bricks were found by Colin and James Smith in a wooded area near Oxtongue Lake, Ontario, Canada. The property has been a farm and a sawmill for the last 170 years and probably predates the village. Below – James Dougall & Sons Ltd, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. Alternative brickworks include: Bonnyside Brickworks, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. Note the two…

Found by Ian Suddaby at the site of the old Boghead Brickworks. This example is not in my possession. Boghead Fireclay Works, Bathgate, West Lothian. The origins of ‘RH & Co’ are unknown. It is not thought that the initials stand for any one-time owner of the company. There is a small fly in the…

28/05/1898 – West Lothian Courier – With the transfer of the Southrigg Colliery to the firm of John Nimmo & Sons, Limited, which took place on the Whitsunday term day (16th inst.), an important step has been taken in the development of the extensive coalfield which extends from West Craigs southwards through the eastmost part…

Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. Boghead Fireclay Works, Bathgate, West Lothian. . . . . Below – The same stamp on a much deeper impression than the above and the oval stamping plate can be clearly same. Found by Ian Suddaby in the Stirling area. Below – A similar example found by…