Castle Cary
— 13/11/2025Found by Ian Suddaby at Spittal Beach, Berwick. This example is not in my possession. Castlecary Fireclay & Lime Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Note the thumbprint to the top right corner. . .
Found at Castlecary Fireclay & Lime Works, Castlecary (Weir)
I believe this brickmark to say GEM IRR but it may say GEM 1 RR – also note the difference in size and shape of the last 2 ‘R’s
Castlecary Fireclay & Lime Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire or the Glenboig Union Fireclay Company which took over the Castlecary company and works in 1936 (Via General Refractories, Sheffield) and continued the ‘GEM’ and ‘Castlecary’ brand names.
Now then – yet again I think this mark could relate to this brick being manufactured for a foreign railway system. See the following 2 links for similar thoughts.
South American Railway Systems
Below – It is very possible that IRR stands for Iraqi Republic Railways although the company only changed to this name in 1958. I would, however, favour a connection to the Indian Railway network.

Found by Ian Suddaby at Spittal Beach, Berwick. This example is not in my possession. Castlecary Fireclay & Lime Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Note the thumbprint to the top right corner. . .
Found by Martyn Fretwell in the Sheffield area. This example is not in my possession. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire
The following Scottish bricks were part of a collection owned by Ian Sneddon, New South Wales, Australia. They were all found at various unknown locations in Australia. . . . . Below – Caledonia – Caledonia Fireclay works, Paisley, Renfrewshire. Below – Gartcraig – Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. Below – Inverkeithing F &…
Thank you to Razec Egroj for sending the photo. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire .
Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire .
Found in the Alloa area. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire .
Found by Claudio Ernesto Rios. Claudio states – The bricks were found in the City of Zárate, Buenos Aires, Argentina. In a fridge (almost totally destroyed today) the fridge’s name was Smithfield Refrigerator of English capital, built in 1903, so I would believe those bricks were manufactured in the last decade of the 19th century….
Found by Gary Hibberd near Penicuik. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire
Found by Flipp Metlin in a basement floor in Saint Petersburg, on Vasilievskiy Island, Russia. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire It is likely there is a dash and a downward arrow stamped on the right of the brick…
Found by Ian Suddaby by the Firth of Forth in Central Scotland. This example is not in my possession. The manufacturer of this checker is unknown although the find site would suggest it was made at the Manuel Works, Whitecross’ Scotland. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire….
