Photographed by Ian McFadyen at English Camp in Almaden Quicksilver Park in San Jose, California.
Ian states ” It likely was ballast on a ship coming around Cape Horn to collect mercury (quicksilver) from the mine at New Almaden. The mercury mine at New Almaden (just south of San Jose, California) was the most productive mine in California – more profitable than any gold mine.
There was a large building (Casa Grande) built in New Almaden using all the bricks that were shipped in as ballast on ships. The mine stopped operating in the mid-1970s. By the time I got here in the 1980s there was a big pile of old bricks in the park. As they “improved” the park, they removed all the old bricks and ended up building a nice path with new bricks – there is one last Heatheryknowe brick in the path.”
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Found by Dr Ali Asghar Hemmati in an old building previously belonging to the Iranian oil company located in Haftgel City in the province of Khuzestan, Iran. James Dougall & Sons Ltd, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire Alternative brickworks include: Bonnyside Brickworks, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. . .
Found by Jeffrey Valli on the railroad tracks in Truro, Massachusetts, USA. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
Many thanks to Gustavo Coronel for the following information. This ‘Crater’ brick was found in lime kiln furnace No 5, Malagueño, Córdoba, Argentina. Manufactured by the Etna or Atlas Brickworks, Armadale, West Lothian. . . . .
Found by Fakhru Redha on the Riau Islands, Indonesia. 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. . . .
Found by Reuben Bartolo in a fireplace in Mosta, Malta. Reuben states – The building itself is from the 1500s, I would guess the fireplace is around 1950s. The bricks were between the limestone blocks, behind the fireplace itself. James Dougall & Sons Ltd, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire Alternative brickworks include: Bonnyside Brickworks, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. .
Found by Theresa Wentzell on Oxner’s beach Riverport, Nova Scotia, Canada. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
Many thanks to Chris Lowe for the following information. Chris states the bricks were found in an old fireplace on his family’s property in Oregon, USA. There may be a thumbprint to the top right. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co Ltd, Bonnybridge. alt Calder Firebrick Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. alt Chapelhall Works, Lanarkshire. Hepworth Ceramic Holdings…
Found by James Floyd on the beach at Coffin’s Harbour, New Island, Falkland Islands. Caledonia Fireclay Works, Paisley, Renfrewshire. . . . .
Found by Ray Thorn at Grandbay, New Brunswick, Canada. Note the thumbprint to the top right. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
Found by Len Baird in East Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA. Len states – I have found GartCraig brick pieces in East Lebanon, New Hampshire at the remains of a former slate mill from the mid-19th century. It is immediately adjacent to what used to be the Northern Railroad which came from Boston up through New…
