Myrtle A

Found by Ian Suddaby on the site of the old Manuel Works, Whitecross.

This example is not in my possession.

  • 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

Ian states – MYRTLE A – I’ve now done some further investigations and am more convinced that this lovely brick is a mistake as well as being lovely. To recap, Myrtle bricks are silica bricks with added quartzite and are made for steel furnaces. On this one there is a mark on the back which is probably where an iron inclusion has burned out, something that happens on Nettle fireclay quite a bit but surely can’t on a silica brick.

There is also a Myrtle brick and a broken Myrtle with the sandy fabric and white quartzite flecks. Then a broken Nettle with the dark iron inclusions. These were largely eliminated in the later Nettle D bricks. Finally there is another Myrtle A, found at Manuel in 2014. This shows the normal colour and white flecks you’d expect from a Myrtle.

It might well be that mistakes in brick naming are almost never recognised but this appears to be one. Quite a find I think.

Below – The rear of the brick showing a burned-out iron inclusion.

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