Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

Found by Bill Duff in Alloa. This example is not in my possession. Buicks, Hilton Fireclay Works, Alloa. . . .

Found on the site of the old Hilton Fire Clay Works, Alloa. This was most likely manufactured on-site. This is a lovely example of a brick being fired in a kiln and ‘exploding’ as the moisture content in the clay was too high. The water in the clay turns to steam and is forced out…

Found on the site of the old Hilton Fire Clay Works, Alloa. Buicks, Hilton Fireclay Works, Alloa. . . . .

Below – 1854 – The likely site of the Oakley Brickworks – Note the clay pit marked to middle right. 1862 – James Gemmell, brick and tile maker, Oakley, Fife. 21/02/1863 – Alloa Advertiser – Bricks at the Forth Ironworks – Bricks well known for their superiority can now be disposed of at the following…

Found at Alloa. Buicks, Hilton Fireclay Works, Alloa. . . . . Below – A similar stamp on a ‘white’ brick found by Ian Suddaby in the Alloa area. This example has a faint mirror image to the rear and a hand inscribed ‘X’. .

Found by Andrew Wood at Kelliebank, Alloa. Buicks, Hilton Fireclay Works, Alloa. . . . . Below – The same example found by Bill Duff in Alloa.  

Found at the Hilton Fire Clay Works. Buicks, Hilton Fireclay Works, Alloa. . . . . . Below – A very similar stamp on a ceramic tree stump planter. This is in the possession of Ian Suddaby. . . Below – A similar item in a 19th-century Glenboig Works catalogue.

Found in woodland on the site of the old Hilton Fire Clay Works, Alloa. They are not marked Buick or Hilton but they were found on-site and they were found among Buick white glazed bricks. Their appearance appears very similar to the Buicks. I have at this time no reason to believe they were made elsewhere…

Below – 25/05/1886 – The Scotsman –  The International Exhibition Edinburgh – Granolithic is a form of high-grade concrete ‘invented’ by Stuart and Co, Edinburgh. Note the reference to Prestongrange Coal and Fire Brick Company, Glenboig Fire Clay Company, Garterrie (Gartverrie) Fireclay Company, James Dougall & Sons Bonnybridge, James Brown Glasgow, Robert Brown & Son…

This was found at the Hilton Fire Clay Works, Alloa. The maker is unknown but most likely Scottish and most likely made on-site at Hilton. This shaped brick, almost like a coping brick, has 4 very unusual finger impressions. They almost look fake in that they all look different shapes and they are so perfect…