Scotland's Brick Manufacturing Industry

Photographed by Martin Sneddon in the Ayrshire area. I am not in possession of this example. There may also be another word stamped above Warrix but it is unclear. Warrix Fire Clay Works, Irvine, North Ayrshire. . . .

These drains and collars were found by Ian Suddaby in Fife near to Inverkeithing. They show evidence of snap lines. At least 3 of these pipes would have been extruded at the same time from the pipe making machine. They would be connected by a thin strip of clay and fired together. After firing they…

Below – 3 x  spigot and socket water pipes with ‘runic’ type  symbols scratched into the tiles at either end. The exact reason for the symbols is unknown. Photo source – Historic Environment Scotland – It is believed these are medieval exapmples of clay water pipes and were found at Glen Luce Abbey. . ….

Found by John (Ian) Jones in the Ayrshire  or Lanarkshire area. Unidentified maker. Find location would suggest Scottish origins but…. 13 1/4″ long x 2 1/2″ diameter in middle. Fluted end measures 3″ – 3 1/4″ in diameter. (Socket) Tapered end measures 1 34″ – 2″ iin diameter. (Spigot) . .    

Found by Tucker Kennedy in the Ayrshire. This is a paver or byre block and it is salt glazed. Bourtreehill Fireclay Works, Dreghorn, Ayrshire. . . . .

I have added this newspaper article for interests sake. William Brown, Broomielaw, Glasgow is advertising ‘draining slates’ for sale. These slates  would be used instead of clay sole plates under the join of two drainage tiles. Below – 17/11/1845 – Glasgow Herald –  

Found by Jackie Thompson in the Polton, Mid-Lothian area. Newbattle Brickworks, Newtongrange, Midlothian. . . . . .

Below – 25/11/1841 – Fife Herald – Article on tile draining in Ayrshire. Old drainage ‘tubes’ were manufactured at the Drongan Pottery. From an article entitled ” Statistics of Tile Draining,” published in the Ayr Observer, we select the following facts ami inferences, which, for brevity’s sake, are thrown into our own language. So far…

Found by Tucker Kennedy in Ayrshire. Loudon & Russell Allanton brick tile and fireclay works, Newmains 1964 – Hepworth Iron Company ( HIC ) – A subsidiary company – The Lochside Coal and Fireclay Company Ltd. -has acquired the whole of the issued shared capital of Loudon and Russell Ltd. of Newmains, Wishaw, Lanarkshire and also the fixed assets of the…

Found by Andrew Gemmell in the Cadder area of Glasgow. Errol Brick and Tile Works, Inchcoonans, Dundee 16/03/2015 – Graham Douglas, co author of Survey of Scottish brickmarks 1985 relates the following: –  When carrying out a visit to the Inchcoonan / Errol works in c.1985 I was told an anecdote regarding Inchcoonan drainage tiles….