Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

Below – Information – British Geological Survey – Indian Kyanite. Indian kyanite supplied to the Glenboig Union Fireclay Company Limited 18.2.37

Indian kyanite supplied to the Glenboig Union Fireclay Company Limited 18.2.37
Kyanite is a mineral composed of aluminium silicate. It belongs to the triclinic crystal system and generally forms elongated tabular crystals and is usually blue in colour, often in zones with darker blue in the centre of the crystal.
It is found in pelitic rocks that have undergone high-pressure metamorphism and are often associated with garnet, staurolite and mica.
Its commercial uses were as a raw material for high-temperature porcelain, perfect electrical insulators and acid-resistant products. The Glenboig Union Fireclay Company Limited had offices in Glasgow and works at Glenboig where it processed material from its Gain Mine and Gartcosh Pit for refractories.

26/01/1910 – Kirkintilloch Herald – David Brown (23), drawer, residing No. 2 Garnqueen Square, Glenboig, has been fatally injured in the Gain Mine, Glenboig, occupied by the Glenboig Union Fireclay Company (Limited). He was discovered by the oversman lying under about 3 cwt of clay stone that had fallen upon him from the roof while he was at work. Death was due to fracture of the spinal column and suffocation.

28/02/1910 – Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser – Yesterday before Sheriff Glegg and a jury, an inquiry was held into the cause of the death of David Brown, pit drawer, Garnqueen, in the employment of the Glenboig Union Fireclay Coy. It appeared he had been killed instantaneously on 18th January last while engaged in taking out fireclay from the face in the Gain Mine, Glenboig, a fall of stone and blaes upon him causing suffocation. The jury found accordingly.

08/04/1910 – Belshill Speaker – Gas Explosion in a Mine. Another explosion of accumulated gas is reported from the Gain Mine of the Glenboig Union Fireclay Company (Limited). While William Gair, the manager, was examining a fall at the “dook” workings, a naked light ignited the gas and burned him on the forehead, face, and arms. John Beattie, who was along with him, escaped with less severe burns.

02/02/1929 – Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser -Mine accident. About 2 p.m. on Tuesday a miner named Alexander Henderson (29), 50 Waddell’s Avenue. Glenmavis met with an accident in the Gain Clay Mine, Annathill, the property of and worked by the Glenboig Union Fireclay Coy., Ltd., Glenboig. A collision occurred between an empty hutch which Henderson was pushing along the rails and four loaded, runaway hutches. Dr Moffat, Glenboig who was called in, found the man suffering from a simple fracture of both hones of the left leg. He was removed to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

c. 1935 – Bob Millan states the footage is of the Gayne Fireclay Mine, Glenboig (aka Gain) and the brickworks are believed to be the Stein Castlelcary Works. (Note – SBH – Unfortunately the link in relation to this information has ‘disappeared’ and I cannot find it again. If anyone can point me in the right direction please get in touch).

04/07/1939 – The Scotsman – Lanark County Council has been given notice by H. M. Inspector of Mines of the abandonment of the following mines: Gain Mine, Glenboig belonging to the Glenboig Union Fireclay Co., Ltd ., Glasgow … Chapelhall, belonging to the Bonnybridge Silica and Fireclay Co., Ltd., Bonnybridge.