Scotland's Brick Manufacturing Industry

Photographed by Ian Suddaby in the East Lothian area. Gladsmuir Brick & Tile Works,  Gladsmuir, East Lothian. . . . . . .

James Waldie and thereafter James Waldie & Sons were originally coal merchants. (Note – SBH – I am as yet unsure of the date whereby they started to manufacture bricks nor exactly where the brickworks were situated. In 1872 they leased the Newbattle Brick and Tile Works but they were also involved in many collieries…

Wallyford Brickworks, Musselburgh, East Lothian. Brickworks – Located between No.1 and No.3 pits, the Wallyford Brickworks were part of the NCB’s operations from 1924-69 (Bourhill, p9). The works were then sold to the Scottish Brick Corporation; they closed in 1972 when employee numbers were c30. James Burns was the manager at the brickworks from 1960-72;…

Found by Ian Suddaby at the old Wallyford Colliery site. Wallyford Brickworks, Musselburgh, East Lothian. There is no “Edinburgh” brickworks but the Edinburgh Collieries Company owned collieries at Bankton, Bellyford, Carberry, Fleets, Wallyford and Prestongrange, the latter two sites also having brickworks. Either could have produced this brickmark although Wallyford seems to be the favourite…

Gladsmuir Brick & Tile Works, Gladsmuir, East Lothian. Below –  1799 – This map suggests that locals knew there was clay in the area of the subsequent Gladsmuir Brick and Tile Works with the reference to Claybarns. Below – 1854 – Gladsmuir Brick and Tile Works. 1865 – 1866 – Walter Ritchie, manager of brick and fireclay works,…

Found in Gladsmuir and kindly donated by Patricia Coupe. Gladsmuir Brick & Tile Works,  Gladsmuir, East Lothian. . . . .  

Found in Jedburgh. Slightly different size and shape of lettering from my other NCB Wallyford example. Wallyford Brickworks, Musselburgh, East Lothian. . . .    

Found Wallyford, East Lothian. Possibly Wallyford Brickworks, Musselburgh, East Lothian? This chamfered brick has been double stamped Edinburgh and in 2 different ‘fonts’ – the letter 2 is also stamped. Interestingly the second Edinburgh stamp is marked on both the flat face of the brick and the sloping chamfer. There is no “Edinburgh” brickworks but…

Gladsmuir Brick & Tile Works,  Gladsmuir, East Lothian. This example is not in my possession. . . . .  

Found by Ian Suddaby in the Edinburgh area. Possibly Wallyford Brickworks, Musselburgh, East Lothian. There is no “Edinburgh” brickworks but the Edinburgh Collieries Company owned collieries at Bankton, Bellyford, Carberry, Fleets, Wallyford and Prestongrange, the latter two sites also having brickworks. Either could have produced this brickmark although Wallyford seems to be the favourite among brick…