Bonshaw Brick and Tile Works, Annan, Dumfries.
Many thanks to Iain Gow with regards to much of the information herein.
Canmore – Bonshaw Tileworks entered use after 1857 and became disused about 1900. It is partly demolished and has one kiln of Newcastle type.
Bonshaw Tileworks was established in the latter half of the 19th century and is depicted on the 2nd edition of the OS 6-inch map (Dumfriesshire, sheet lviii, 1900). Of the buildings shown on this map, only the kiln survives, and this is a two-chamber example of the Newcastle type; the outline of the drying sheds and the other buildings are now indicated by a pattern of robber trenches. The map indicates a pond to the SE of the kiln; this was still water-filled on the date of visit, but there is also evidence of several other dammed ponds, now breached, to the N. A tramway is also depicted, running from the processing plant to the clay pit, but only a short stretch now survives and the clay pit has been removed by the construction of the new motorway. Strewn across the area, there are fragments of red bricks and drainage tiles, but most of this appears to be wastage. The Tileworks was connected by a siding to the Kirtlebridge, Annan and Brayton Branch of the Caledonian Railway.
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AD2136 – William Jolly, Master Mariner of Doubletrees, St Blazey Gate
AD2136/2 – Papers – schooner Margaret Murray of London.
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 which 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 branch 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 Ttilework on the property of the Revd. [Reverend] John Irving of Bonshaw Tower. Tenanted by Mr Moffat.
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.
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.
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Below – The following brick is the middle left one on the photo above and clearly shows finger drag marks where someone has removed a scraping of clay.
Below – This is the cored brick depicted right middle on the assembly above with what looks like the holes left after being lifted by a 2 pronged lifting fork.
The left prong can be seen between the first 4 cores on the left. The right pong has just nicked the core on the bottom row, 2nd from right.
Below – Examples of field drains etc found on site.
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Found at Oakvale, Livingston. Heathfield Fireclay Works, Heathfield, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Cardowan Fireclay Works, Lanarkshire. . . Below – A similar stamp on a brick found at the same location by Ian Suddaby. Note the lazy ‘O’ which is lying on its side. Note the thumbprint to the bottom left.
This brick is in the possession of John Stevens. John states – I believe it came from a fireplace in an old north Brisbane home here in Queensland. Note the thumbprint to the bottom left. Blochairn Sand and Fire Clay Co, Blochairn, Glasgow. . .
This brick was found by Gustavo Agustín Coronel. He lives in the City of Malagueño Córdoba, Argentina. Gustavo states (apologies for the quality of the google translation) – I would like to tell you that since last year I have been researching and studying the history of our city, this study was carried out mainly…
Found by Ian Suddaby in Leith, Edinburgh. This example is not in my possession. Ian states – This might well be a second as it’s not well made. On the first photo, the frog is malformed and looks like it’s been repositioned in the press. The whole brick is misshaped too and the letters aren’t clear,…
Many thanks to Terrence Honore and the Palmiste Historical Society for the following information. These Scottish bricks were found on the Cedar Grove, Canaan Palmiste Estates, Trinidad. They were formerly owned by Scotsmen like the Lamonts. A chimney of bricks from that era 1810, still stands, along with bridges and a few other structures. The…
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. ….
The following bricks were found at Old Manutenção Militar, Beato – Lisbon, Portugal by Rui Ribolhos, Lisbon, Portugal. Empatia Arqueologia LDA. Rui states – I am an archaeologist working in Lisbon at an old nun’s convent from the XVII th century (Convento das freiras Grilas, Beato, Lisboa) transformed into a military facility of baking bread…
Found at Heathfield Fire Clay Works. Note the thumbprint to the top right which has slightly deformed the ‘S’. Heathfield Fireclay Works, Heathfield, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Cardowan Fireclay Works, Lanarkshire. .
Found at the Heathfield Fireclay Works, Garnkirk. Note the thumbprint to the top right, partly obscuring the ‘D’. Heathfield Fireclay Works, Garnkirk. . . .
Found at the Heathfield Fireclay Works. Note the thumbprint to the top right. Heathfield Fireclay Works, Garnkirk. . . .
