1899 – Castlecary Fireclay Works were opened after a 31-year lease (with a further 31-year option) was signed with the Marquis of Zetland.
15/03/1904 – Production of the brand ‘Thistle’ began.
1905 – The company was incorporated as John G Stein and Co. (20/01/1905?)
Below – 07/09/1917 – Daily Record – Wages dispute.
1919 – 1922 – Allandale village was built to provide housing for the workforce at the Castlecary works.
17/01/1920 – Aberdeen Press and Journal – A ballot of the Castlecary Fireclay miners of Messrs J.G.Stein & Co has resulted in the majority voting for a strike to enforce recognition of the local union officials at this company’s High Bonnybridge Works where the miners are out on strike.
05/05/1922 – Kilsyth Chronicle – Fireclay Works close – The closing down of Messrs J.G Stein & Co’s extensive fireclay works at Castlecary, which had been threatened for some time unless there was a spirited revival in trade has caused much disappointment all round. Messrs Stein have kept their works going through the bad times but stocks have accumulated to such an extent that a stoppage has been rendered necessary and it maybe two or three months before a resumption of work is made.
Below – 27/02/1926 – Falkirk Herald – J.G.Steins workers gathering.
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1927 – Castlecary laboratory was started.
1927 – Alan Stein takes over the company after the death of his father John Gilchrist Stein.
1928 – Dr Hyslop was the first chemist in charge of the laboratory.
Below – 23/02/1929 – Falkirk Herald – John G Stein annual social outing.
21/09/1929 – Falkirk Herald – Marquis of Zetland’s visit – On Monday afternoon the Marquis of Zetland paid a visit to Castlecary Fire Clay Works of Messrs John G Stein Ltd. On his arrival, he was met by Col. Stein and was conducted over the works. The Marquis showed great interest in the various departments of brickmaking.
Below – 04/04/1931 – Falkirk Herald – Employee’s reunion – Annual gathering of employee’s of Messrs John G Stein & Co – Col Stein and the trade outlook.
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17/01/1936 – Kirkintilloch Gazette – Castlecary – Trade is exceedingly busy at Messrs Steins Fireclay Works at present. Extra accommodation is being provided.
22/05/1939 – Edinburgh Evening News – John G Stein & Co Ltd, Castlecary Fireclay Works are to give every employee who has 1 years service or over a weeks holiday with pay in the summer. Those with less than a years service will receive one day’s pay for every 2 months service.
07/09/1946 – Falkirk Herald – Wanted men and boys for firebrick works. Good wages. Inexpensive meals available at the works canteen. Apply John G. Stein & Co., Ltd., Castlecary Works, Bonnybridge.
14/06/1947 – Falkirk Herald – Men wanted for fire clay pit. Mining experience not essential, 6 weeks training given on trade union wages; after training energetic men can earn good wages on piece work – John G Stein & Co Ltd, Castlecary Works, Bonnybridge.
06/12/1947 – Falkirk Herald – Struck by a buckle. A further brickworks fatality was inquired into. On 17th October, David Jamieson (58), charge-hand, 60 Allandale, Bonnybridge lost his life at Castlecary Brickworks belonging to Messrs J. & G. Stein & Co., Ltd. The evidence was to the effect that Jamieson was found lying seriously injured underneath the driving wheel of a crushing machine, and was found to be dead when taken to the ambulance room of the works. A repair had been done to the motor of the machine which had been started up again. No one saw what had happened. Jamieson was last seen outside the wooden guard of the machine. Jamieson was found inside the guard, lying underneath the machine. He was in a crouching position. The buckle of the moving belt had struck him on the head. A formal verdict was returned.
28/02/1948 – Falkirk Herald – Wanted for Castlecary Works, men to train as Silica Brick Moulders, starting at 2s 03/4d per hour; also labourers for engineering and other departments at 2s per hour minimum (men over 21 years) plus good timekeeping bonus; Women and girls as odd stuff dressers and machine hands; 44-hour. 5-day week; union rates of wages: good canteen; bus fares paid over 3s per week.—Apply John G. Stein & Co., Ltd., Castlecary Works, Bonnybridge.
13/03/1948 – Falkirk Herald – Men wanted for fire clay pit. Mining experience not essential, 6 weeks training given on trade union wages; after training energetic men can earn good wages on piece work – John G Stein & Co Ltd, Castlecary Works, Bonnybridge.
Below – 1950 – 1967 – Castlecary Fireclay Works.
03/11/1951 – Falkirk Herald – Electrician wanted; must be skilled in maintenance and repair of all types of motors. Maintenance men and machinists wanted. Must be members of the A.E.U. Apprentices also required to train in these trades. Apply to John Stein & Co, Castlecary Works, Bonnybridge.
01/05/1954 – Falkirk Herald – Boy wanted for firebrick works office at High Bonnybridge. Good prospects for a smart boy. Applications to the Secretary, John Stein & Co, Castlecary Works, Bonnybridge.
09/10/1954 – Falkirk Herald – Maintenance Engineer required for large firebrick works. Applicants should have good general experience in heavy industry, including layout and erection of machinery. Able to control staff of approximately 40. Apply by letter in the first instance, giving details of education, experience, and present responsibilities, to Works Manager, John G. Stein & Co. Ltd., Castlecary Works, Bonnybridge. Stirlingshire.
03/09/1955 – Falkirk Herald – Mr Thomas Fletcher, Annieslea. High Bonnybridge has been promoted from the sales department at Castlecary Brickwork. Allandale, owned by Messrs John G. Stein & Co., Ltd., to be works manager at their Milnquarter Work. High Bonnybridge.
01/1959 – New plant is built to manufacture cements and patches.
07/1960 – The production of the Myrtle, Bluebell and Daisy silica bricks ceases.
1965 – An early computer is installed at the works. This is believed to have been the first installed at a brickworks in Scotland.
1970 – GR-Stein Refractories Ltd was formed by the merger of John G. Stein and Co and General Refractories of Sheffield. GR-Stein became a subsidiary of Hepworth Ceramic Holdings Ltd.
12/1979 – Fire brick manufacture is closed down.
10/1981 – Cement and patch manufacture is closed down.
Glentore Fireclay Works, Greengairs, Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. These works may have been a fireclay mine as opposed to a works manufacturing products from fireclay. Many thanks to Tony Jervis for identifying these works and supplying much of the information below. This page should be read in conjunction with the Rawyards Brickworks page. The 1936 –…
Found by Ian Suddaby in Inverkeithing, Fife. This example is not in my possession. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire.
Found by GeorgeTordoffon Splott Beach, Cardiff, Wales. This example is not in my possession. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. .
Found by Chris Tilney in the South Durham area of England. This example is not in my possession. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. .
Found by Ian Suddaby in the Winchburgh area. This example is not in my possession. The ‘BW’ is likely to stand for Babcock and Wilcox. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. .
Dunaskin Fire Clay Works –Dalmellington – Dunaskin Fireclay Mine was owned by the Dalmellington Iron Company from 1866 to c. 1920. They also mined at the Pennyvenie mine and at the Jellieston mine, Patna. They produced taphole clay for blast furnaces and only ever made a few firebricks in the early years. Their biggest product…
This brick was found by Craig Powell at the Mount Jackson gold mine in Western Australia. Craig states – There were dozens of them made into a kitchen fireplace and many more loosely stacked around the old station homestead near the abandoned mine. The kitchen section was an add on to the original building which…
Found by Heather McHaffie in the West Lothian area. This example is not in my possession. Thistle DCI or Thistle DC 1 Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire.
Many thanks to Alun Hughers for sending this photo of Scottish bricks he saw in Hunte’s Garden, Barbados. Thistle brick – Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. Calder brick – Bonnybridge Silica &…
This was found by Tony Gray in the Wearside, Sunderland area. This example is not in my possession. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co Ltd, Bonnybridge. alt Calder Firebrick Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. alt Chapelhall Works, Lanarkshire. Hepworth Ceramic Holdings plc (GR-Stein Refractories Ltd. parent co) bought the Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co. Ltd in 1972, closed…
