Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

A letter from Archibald Murray, Annan Dumfries to Captain Jolly.

Dated 03/08/1887

Description “He has just got strong enough to go downstairs. He hopes that Captain Jolly will find something suitable soon. The ship ( The Margaret Murray) went into dry dock yesterday to be repaired and he is currently waiting for the official survey. John Murray is going to Liverpool to see to it. He encloses the average adjuster’s statement (not present). On the reverse in pencil are calculations probably relating to Jolly’s share. All on notepaper of J and A Murray, Quarry Owners, Corsehill Quarries and Bonshaw Brick and Tile Works, Annan, Dumfries.  Source

Scheduled monument – The monument consists of the upstanding remains of the former Bonshaw Tileworks, comprising a two-chambered Newcastle Kiln and associated earthworks marking the site of workshops, processing plant and drying sheds. The Bonshaw Tile Works was established in the latter half of the 19th century to produce lightly fired tile field drains and from 1896-1911 also produced common pressed red brick.

The horizontal draught kiln is constructed of squared rubble, with substantial masonry buttresses at the SE and NW and is characterised by two brick-lined vaulted chambers each incorporating a pair of fireboxes and four flues which lead to a single chimney. The fireboxes are now partially blocked with brick rubble and the chimneys are no longer extant. A linear feature to the E of the works marks the track of a tramway that linked the complex with a clay pit from which the raw material was extracted. To the W, a siding connected the tile works to the Kirtlebridge, Annan and Drayton branches of the Caledonian Railway. SE of the kiln, a swampy area denotes the former site of a pond while depressions indicative of several other dammed ponds, now breached, are just visible to the N.

The area to be scheduled is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 125m NW-SE by 160m NE-SW as marked in red on the accompanying map extract, to include the upstanding remains of the two-chambered Newcastle Kiln, earthworks indicative of former buildings associated with the tile works, depressions marking the site of former ponds and a portion of the trackway. Excluded from the scheduling are the remains of a World War II Nissen hut which lies at the extreme N end of the site.

1848 – 1858 – ScotlandPlaces – Bonshaw Tileworks. John Burnie Manager. A newly constructed tilework on the property of the Revd. [Reverend] John Irving of Bonshaw Tower. Tenanted by Mr Moffat.

1855 – Valuation Rolls – The Reverend John Irving, proprietor, Tileworks, Bonshawside, Annan.

Below – 08/07/1857 – Dumfries and Galloway Standard – Fatal accident – A young lad named Porteous died while building the kiln when the brick arch fell on him crushing him to death.

21/01/1861 – Invoice – Messrs Fergusson & Moffat, Bonshawside Tileworks. Signed by James Moffat.

11/09/1863 – Carlisle Journal – Proposed railway – Port – Annan and Kirtlebridge Junction Railway – Reference that it will pass the Bonshaw Brick and Tile Works and west of Whinnyrigg Brick and Tile Works.

1882 -1885  – Bonshaw Tileworks, Ecclefechan. Moffat & Murray. T.O. Kirtlebridge Station, 2.

10/02/1882 – Glasgow Herald – Man wanted to take charge of an engine and make himself generally useful. One with mechanical knowledge would be preferred. Apply to Moffat & Murray, Bonshaw Brick and Tile Works, Kirtlebridge, Ecclefechan.

05/12/1883 – Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser – Dumfries Sheriff Court – ln this court on Monday, before Dr Bruce. Hon. Sheriff Substitute, William McGuire, labourer. Rigg of Gretna pleaded guilty to having assaulted Mr Moffat, brick and tile manufacturer, Kirtlebridge, and having committed a breach of the peace at the same time while in a compartment of a train between Gretna and Kirkpatrick railway stations on Saturday last, and was fined £1 or 14 days’ imprisonment.

25/07/1884 – Annandale Observer and Advertiser – Melancholy accident at Kirtlebridge. On Monday afternoon, about half-past five o’clock as Mr Thomas Stothart, joiner, Eaglesfield, and his son Thomas a youth of 17 years, were engaged at Bonshaw Brick and Tile Works in sawing some timber for the erection of a new drying-shed there, a slab, about an inch square and eleven feet long, on being removed from the saw accidentally caught it and being thrown with great violence, struck Mr Stothart Senr in the region of the heart, killing him almost if not quite instantaneously. Mr Stothart was a widower, having lost his wife about two years ago. He leaves a family of seven, the youngest child being about six years of age. Mr Stothart was an elder in Middlebie Parish Church, an able and energetic workman, and was much and deservedly respected in the neighbourhood.

21/07/1884 – Thomas Stothart killed at Bonshaw Tileworks. The inscription reads “In memory of Mary McDougal wife of Thomas Stothart in Eaglesfield who died at Edinburgh, 23rd August 1882 aged 46 years. Also, the said Thomas Stothart who was killed at Bonshaw Tileworks 21st July 1884 aged 45 years”

1886 – Moffat & Murray, Bonshaw Brick & Tile Works, Kirtlebridge.

Below – 1886 – Bonshaw Brick and Tile Works, Ecclefechan.

1886 – 1889 – Bonshaw Tileworks, Ecclefechan. Moffat & Murray. T.O. Kirtlebridge Station, 2.

20/05/1887 – Annandale Advertiser – The business of the late firm Moffat and Murray, brick and tile manufacturers, Bonshaw Tileworks, has been acquired by us and will be carried on in all its branches under efficient supervision. All orders left at the tilework or at Corsehill will be punctually attended to. J & A Murray. Corsehill 23/04/1887.

Below – 1889 – J & A Murray, Corsehill Quarries and Bonshaw Brick and Tile Works.

18/04/1890 – Annandale Advertiser – Reference to John Blackstock, Bonshaw Tileworks attending a Dumfriesshire Liberal Association meeting.

Below – 1893 – Advert Bonshaw Brick and Tile Works, Annan.

1896 – J & A Murray, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, Bonshaw Brick and Tile Works. Office Corsehill, Annan.

Below – 1896 – Bonshaw Brick and Tile Works, Annan.

05/12/1898 – Glasgow Herald – To brick and tile makers – Bonshaw Brick and Tile Works near Kirtlebridge Station, Caledonian Railway.Good going business which may be largely increased by an enterprising tenant. Entry on Whitsunday 1899. Apply to Mr George Moffat, Factor, Kirtlebridge …

Below – 1898 – Bonshaw Brick and Tile Works. Railway link in place.