The following Scottish bricks were found by Consuelo Bravo Antúnez in the heart of the Atacama Desert, Chile.
The Atacama Desert was a huge source of sodium nitrate (saltpetre) which was mined on a large scale until the early 1940s. The UK imported many many shiploads of the saltpetre and it appears they supplied many of the fire bricks required for the industrial processes involved in the production of the fertiliser.
Other stamped bricks found were ‘Hanningtons’ from the NE of England and a broken mystery brick stamped ‘Balka?’
.
Below – A brick stamped ‘Glenboig’.
Belo w- Bricks stamped ‘Morningside’ and ‘Forth’.
Below – A brick stamped ‘Scotia’. The maker of this brick is still unidentified but it is thought to be of Scottish origins.
Below – A ‘Coltness’ brick. This is a building brick and such bricks are rare on foreign shores. Normally it was the more important refractory or fire bricks that were exported out of Scotland.
This brick was found by Craig Powell at the Mount Jackson gold mine in Western Australia. Craig states – There were dozens of them made into a kitchen fireplace and many more loosely stacked around the old station homestead near the abandoned mine. The kitchen section was an add on to the original building which…
Found by Eric and Amanda Hastings in the City of Troy, New York State, USA. This example is not in my possession. This special product measures – 11 1/2″ x 13″ x 4 1/2″ deep. The hole is 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2 ” x 2 1/2 deep. It dips about 1/2 to 1 inch…
Found by Eric and Amanda Hastings in the City of Troy, New York State, USA. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire .
Found by Justin Hazuga in New Albany, Indiana, USA at the site of the old Star Glass Works factory. Wm Hudspith & Co, Wishaw Pottery and Brickworks, Wishaw. . . . .
Many thanks to Alun Hughers for sending this photo of Scottish bricks he saw in Hunte’s Garden, Barbados. Thistle brick – 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. Calder brick – Bonnybridge Silica &…
Many thanks to Vladimir Smirnov for sending a photograph of this brick which was found in St Petersburg, Russia. Alloa Brick & Tile Works, Alloa, Clackmannanshire. . . . .
This brick is in the possession of Vladimir Smirnov and was found in Kandalaksha, Arkhangelskaya Province, Russia. The brick was found within a domestic dwelling of a local merchant. Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Gartliston Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Building bricks at Garscadden Works, Drumchapel. .
Found by Lindsay Elmore at an old gold mine outside Ravenswood, Queensland, Australia. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
Thank you to Olga Kubareva for forwarding photos and information on this brick. Olga is a director of the Museum and Exhibition Center of the KB JSC “Apatit” in the city of Kirovsk, Murmansk region, Russia. On a survey of an old mine in the Khibiny Mountains, several Dougall stamped bricks were found. The mine operated…
Found by Scotty Dee in an old diamond mine at Copeton Dam, NSW Australia. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
