Found at the old Coltness Iron Works site, Newmains.
The brick is stamped to the side.
GR’s Dykehead – probably stands for General Refractories. However I am uncertain if it was made by GR in England or at one one the Scottish companies they took over.
GR-Stein Refractories Ltd – Formed by merger in 1970 of John G Stein & Co and General Refractories of Sheffield. GR- Stein became a subsidiary of Hepworth Ceramic Holdings Ltd. General Refractories was formed in 1929. It acquired, amongst others, the Glenboig Union Fireclay Co in 1936, which became its Scottish holding company, and Dykehead Gannister & Fireclay Co of Bonnybridge , George Turnbull & Co of Bonnybridge and Castlecary Brick & Fireclay Co, all in 1936.
Below – A very similar stamp found at the same location.
Found by Ian Suddaby in Bonnybridge. This example is not in my possession. Dykehead Fire Clay Works, Bonnybridge, Falkirk. GR Dykehead – probably stands for General Refractories. (Note – SBH – A similar example found is stamped GR’s. Has the – ‘s – fallen off this stamp or is this a variation on a theme?)….
The following fire brick core samples were rescued by Joan Faithfull in 2001 when the Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross closed down. They were generously donated to my collection by Joan’s husband, Monty Faithfull and her son, John Faithfull. Such core samples would be sent to the GR-Stein laboratories for tests and analysis. The…
Found in Fife. I believe this was manufactured by Charles Bramall who owned the Caledonian Brickworks, Larkhall c.1904 to his death 1921 – this site was previously known as the Larkhall Brickfields and by 1938 it was known as Birkenshaw Brickworks. Charles Bramall Ltd, a silica brick manufacturer also owned a brickworks in Sheffield manufacturing silica…
Canmore (Note – SBH – I am unable to pinpoint it on the OS Maps – I will try again!) Below – 1856 – Canmore suggests Kittleyknowe Tileworks were at the location of the red cross. 11/05/1881 – Greenock Advertiser – Bankruptcy – John Finnie Allan, farmer, Cardrona Mains and Kittleyknowe, Peebleshire. (Were the tileworks…
Canmore – Dykehead Fireclay Works. Source Falkirk Museum and Archives – George Turnbull and Company, Dykehead Brickworks, Bonnybridge. Established in 1839. Founder Miss Margaret Donald. The works never became profitable and she eventually sold them to marry and emigrated to Australia. The site was later taken over by George Turnbull & Co. The works stood…
07/02/1891 – Glasgow Herald – Yesterday a labourer named James Simond of no fixed residence sustained a fracture to his left thigh bone and other injuries by falling over at Palacecraig Brickworks, Near Calderbank. He was conveyed to Glasgow Royal Infirmary in the ambulance van. Below – 19/03/1892 – Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser – 42…
Found in Falkirk. Dykehead Firebrick Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. GR’s Dykehead – probably stands for General Refractories. GR-Stein Refractories Ltd – Formed by merger in 1970 of John G Stein & Co and General Refractories of Sheffield. GR- Stein became a subsidiary of Hepworth Ceramic Holdings Ltd. General Refractories was formed in 1929. It acquired, amongst others, the…
Faskine Brickworks, Bank Street, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire. 27/08/1885 – Glasgow Evening Citizen – Shocking death at Faskine Brickwork. A lad named John McCormick, 16 years of age, son of John McCormick, Faskine Row, Carnbroe came by his death in a shocking manner yesterday afternoon. He was engaged filling clay into the clay mixer at Mr Robert…
Found at the old site of the Jenny Lind Brickworks, Motherwell adjacent to the old Ravenscraig Steelworks site. Spinella was a trademark of General Refractories (GR) and manufactured at their Worksop Works. When GR and John G Stein and Co amalgamated (GR-S) it is likely that Spinella bricks continued to be manufactured at Worksop but…
Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. G.R.STEIN PRODUCTS – TYPICAL TECHNICAL DATA This data is typically representative and should not be regarded as a rigid specification BASIC BRICKS – FIRED Product …
