Found at High Bonnybridge.
The consensus of opinion, prior to finding this brick, is that ‘Crater’ was a trademark of the Etna/Atlas Brickworks in West Lothian. This information is detailed in this link The Bricks of Bathville and Armadale and bricks stamped ‘Crater’ have been found on the site of the old Etna/Atlas Brickworks.
This ‘Crater’ stamp is very similar to this example found in Argentina – click me.
This was ‘Crater’ brick and several others were found among debris from the Bonnybridge Silica and Fire Clay Co. It was found among a mass of bricks stamped ‘Bonnybridge Brand’ and as such it was quite likely manufactured by the BSFC Co. but this of course flies in the face of the earlier assumption that ‘Crater’ bricks were made at the Etna/Atlas Brickworks. No other Etna/Atlas products were found in the BSFC Co debris.
Many thanks to Gustavo Coronel for the following information. This ‘Crater’ brick was found in lime kiln furnace No 5, Malagueño, Córdoba, Argentina. Manufactured by the Etna or Atlas Brickworks, Armadale, West Lothian. . . . .
Many thanks to Chris Lowe for the following information. Chris states the bricks were found in an old fireplace on his family’s property in Oregon, USA. There may be a thumbprint to the top right. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co Ltd, Bonnybridge. alt Calder Firebrick Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. alt Chapelhall Works, Lanarkshire. Hepworth Ceramic Holdings…
Thanks to Mark Norstad for the following information. . Mark states – The ‘Heathery Knowe’ was found underneath an old house in Marin County, CA (near San Francisco). The age of the house is unknown. Below – Heathery Knowe Patent Glasgow – Heatheryknowe Fire Clay Works, Glasgow. (Note – SBH – Heathery Knowe appears to be…
Found by Jim in the Sheffield 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 Bonnybridge works in 1973…
Found by Craig Powell in Western Australia. 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 Bonnybridge works in 1973 and closed Chapelhall in 1980. Therefore between…
Found by Ian Suddaby in the Ravenscraig, Motherwell 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 Bonnybridge works…
This brick was photographed by Peter Christensen while out walking in Dominica, West Indies. Peter states – It is in the ground next to the Belfast Distillery. I think it must have been part of the kilns that made the cane rum back in the day. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co Ltd, Bonnybridge. alt Calder…
Found by Karine Pilon in New Brunswick, Canada. Etna Brickworks, Armadale, West Lothian. Alternative brickworks include: West Works, Armadale, West Lothian. . .
These were found by Lindsay Townsend in Cumberland, British Columbia, Canada. Lindsay states – Cumberland BC was a coal mining town (originally called Union), which operated 8 coal mines from the late 1890s until as late as the mid-1950s. The brick I found was near to the sites of the oldest two of these mines,…
Found by Mohammedreza in an oil pump-house in Darkhoein, Khuzestan province, Iran dating from 1920s till 1930s. 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 Bonnybridge…
