Found at Weir Castlecary works, Castlecary.
Note the lovely thumbprint to top right.
Unidentified maker.
Find location would suggest Scottish origins but….. in the absence of any further information I will suggest this was manufactured on site.
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There are very few references to a place called Glencroy in Scotland – there is this -” Glencroy – (Vale of ) a wild and romantic tract near the NE extremity of Loch Loung (Long) in Argyleshire. The 2 ranges of mountains, which overhang this valley, approach each other, and between these the traveller is immured. Their stupendous height and the roaring of numerous cataracts that pour over their broken surface, produce an awful effect” (see page headed GLI) – but this location does not shout clay or brick.
However there is a village of Croy which is approx 4.5 miles from the find location at Castlecary and it is highly likely that this brickmark is named after this village and surrounding area.
Below – 1896 OS Map of Croy near Cumbernauld. There is also a colliery here known as Nethercroy Colliery.
Found by Ian Suddaby in Leith, Edinburgh. This example is not in my possession. Ian states – This might well be a second as it’s not well made. On the first photo, the frog is malformed and looks like it’s been repositioned in the press. The whole brick is misshaped too and the letters aren’t clear,…
The following bricks are in the possession of Boris Talpa, Rostov on Don, Russia. They were found in the Vladivostok and Primorye area of Eastern Russia. . . Below – Glenyards – Glenyards Fireclay Works, Glenyards, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. Note the thumbprint to top right. Below – Boghead – Boghead Fireclay Works, Bathgate, West Lothian. ….
The following bricks were found at Old Manutenção Militar, Beato – Lisbon, Portugal by Rui Ribolhos, Lisbon, Portugal. Empatia Arqueologia LDA. Rui states – I am an archaeologist working in Lisbon at an old nun’s convent from the XVII th century (Convento das freiras Grilas, Beato, Lisboa) transformed into a military facility of baking bread…
Found at Heathfield Fire Clay Works. Note the thumbprint to the top right which has slightly deformed the ‘S’. Heathfield Fireclay Works, Heathfield, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Cardowan Fireclay Works, Lanarkshire. .
Found by Chris Tilney at Blaydon on Tyne, Newcastle. I am not in possession of this example. Note the thumbprint to top right. The ‘B’ is lying on its back. Castlecary Fireclay & Lime Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. . .
Found at the Heathfield Fireclay Works, Garnkirk. Note the thumbprint to the top right, partly obscuring the ‘D’. Heathfield Fireclay Works, Garnkirk. . . .
Found at the Heathfield Fireclay Works. Note the thumbprint to the top right. Heathfield Fireclay Works, Garnkirk. . . .
Found at the Heathfield Fireclay Works. Note the thumbprint to the bottom left. Heathfield Fireclay Works, Garnkirk. . . . Below – Note the thumbprint to the bottom left and the upturned ‘A’. Found at the same location.
This unmarked red clay brick was found by Ian Suddaby and is interesting for several reasons. Ian states:- Below – 1852 – 1853 – What appears to be a row of Gunpowder Mills are shown in 1853 alongside the Gore Water at Gorebridge in Midlothian, Scotland. Down in the river, an impressive sandstone wall with…
Found by Geoff Hancock in the Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire area. I am not in possession of this example. Note the thumbprint to the top right. Heathfield Fireclay Works, Garnkirk. . .
