Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

Found by Ian Suddaby in the Dumbarton area. This example is not in my possession. Scottish Dunbrik Ltd, Stannergate, Dundee. . . . .

Found by Eddie Mclean in the Glasgow area. Buccleuch Terra Cotta Works, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire. (N.B – stands for North Britain – postal abbreviation of the day). This is believed to be an electric cable cover or a land surface gulley for directing water flow. , , . . .

Found in the Barlinnie, Glasgow area. This appears to be an cover to lay over electricty cables inorder to protect them and identify their existence to anyone digging on top of them at a future dtae. The manufacturer is unknown. The find location would suggest Scottish origins but … . . . . .

Found by Ian Suddaby This example is not in my possession. Southhook Fireclay Works, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Ian states –  Electricity cable covers are almost always interlocking in one way or other and are usually slightly convex on top and flat on the base. 9″ x 4½” x 2½”. The channel is 3″ wide and 1½” deep….

Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. This is an electric cable cover. The cover is virtually complete with the lettering starting right on the very edge of the cover. It is not broken at the ends – just slightly nibbled! Unidentified maker. The find location would suggest Scottish origins but … .  

Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. This is a very small example of an electric cable cover and measures 7 inches by 4½ inches. Electric Cables RD O 80456 – it probably should read RD NO 80456. The manufacturer is unknown. The find location would suggest Scottish origins but … . .

Found by Ian Suddaby at Gateside Colliery near Sanquhar. Ian states – In my experience cable covers are always standalone items but this one is clearly a modified brick. It’s 8½” long, 4¼” wide and 2½” thick. The top shows that the word ELECTRICITY was clearly added later as it has dragged through the edge of the…

(Note – SBH – I have added some mention of Siporex here as a matter of interest only. It was a purely cement-based brick – no clay of any description used). Below – 12/06/1959 – Wishaw Press – Costain Concrete Co Ltd will manufacture Siporex in Scotland from early 1960. Siporex is a lightweight autoclaved…

20/12/1955 – Aberdeen Evening Express – Two ‘decent men’ fined for theft and reset. A former brickworks foreman who stole 6 tons 6 cwt 3 qr, of scrap metal and 3 tons of cement from his employers was fined £2o to-day by Sheriff McDonald at Aberdeen. For resetting the cement another man was fined £10….

Graces Guide information. Graces Guide information. Below – 1881 – Advert David Colville and Sons Dalzell Steel and Iron Works, Motherwell. 23/02/1940 – Motherwell Times – I see from the February number on “Colvilles Magazine” an interesting article on “Foamed Slag” being a new product devised as a substitute for timber. Extracts from the article…