Gartshore Brickworks, Twechar, Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire

(Note – SBH – I believe Drumgrew Brickworks and Gartshore Brickworks are one of the same.)

Canmore

1867 – William Baird and Co, Coal and Iron Stone Owners, Gartshore.

06/12/1933 – Kirkintilloch Herald – Brick manufacturing – Messrs William Baird and Co have started operations for the erection of a brickwork at Drumgrew, in the immediate vicinity of the refuse bing at their Gartshore colliery.

03/08/1934 – Midlothian Advertiser – The first consignment of bricks was despatched at the weekend from the new works erected at Gartshore, Dumbartonshire by Messrs Wm Baird and Co Ltd, coalmasters.

Below – 30/12/1935 – Dundee Courier – Gartshore composition bricks advert.

15/01/1937 – Kirkintilloch Gazette – Twechar. The main body of workers at Drumgrew Brickworks struck work on Thursday on a demand for increased wages. A restart was made on Monday.

06/04/1937 – Dundee Courier – David Symons, (14), residing at Twechar near Kilsyth was crushed to death yesterday afternoon when working at Drumgrew Brickwork. He was fastening hutches onto a haulage chain when he was dragged into the haulage wheel. He had been working there only a week or two.

Below – 29/04/1938 – The Scotsman – William Baird advert – references Gartshore brick brand.

24/01/1940 – Kirkintilloch Herald – Assault at Gartshore Brickworks. 2 female workers fighting. It was just after the day’s work. They were inside the works. They were going to the bothy to change clothes. The accused pled guilty to assault. Fined 10 shillings or 10 days.

1947 – The National Coal Board became owners.

Below – 1957 – Gartshore/Drumgrew Brickworks.

1961 – 1962 – A directory of British clay products and manufacturers – Gartshore Brickworks (see NCB Scottish Division, Central – East and West area. Common bricks. Tradename Gartshore.

08/02/1963 – West Lothian Courier – National Coal Board. Central Area review. 1962 – The Central Area was formed at the beginning of the year by amalgamating the Central East and Central West areas … Brickworks – There are six brickworks operating in this area, namely Barbauchlaw, Blantyreferme, Gartshore and Gateside, Newton and Northfield. Some 54 1/2 million bricks were produced during the year. These works now come under the Brickworks Executive. which was formed earlier this year …

1969 1981 – Scottish Industrial Archaeology Survey booklet states the Scottish Brick Corporation were the owners.

1981 – Brickworks closed?

Below – 28/04/1989 – Daily Record – Russlite (Scotland) Ltd, Gartshore Works, Twechar, Kilsyth – selling concrete block bricks (Note – SBH – Did Russlite operate the Gartshore Brickworks site?)

Below – 18/09/1998 – Daily Record – Russell Concrete Products Ltd.

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