Scotland's Brick Manufacturing Industry

Found by Ian Suddaby in Ayrshire. Gully trap drain cover stamped R. Brown & Son Paisley. Caledonian Brick and Drain Tile Works, Paisley, Renfrewshire or Ferguslie or Shortroods. . . .

This brick was found by Kathleen Forward at the site of the Albion Mines Foundry in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada. Photographed by Laura de Boer. The foundry was established in 1827 and was in operation until at least 1865 and possibly as late as the 1890s. Garnkirk Fireclay Works, Garnkirk, Lanarkshire. . . ….

Found near Yangon, Myanmar by Htin Kyaw. Roughcastle Firebrick Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. . . . .  

Found in a creek in Poughkeepsie, NY by Stephanie LaRose. This is an interesting example. Firstly the lettering is ‘raised’ and the word Heatheryknowe is split into two, Heathery Knowe like the Coal Company name. Whereas both my example have the name as one and the lettering is ‘impressed’  – see link . . Below…

Found by Ludson Felida in Bonaire, Caribbean Netherland. The brick was part of an old bread oven on a farmstead. It may read A-1 B Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire .  

Found in Zaandam, Holland by Daniel Tomasi. This is a slight variation from the normal stamp as the Glenboig and A1 run together to form 1 word. There is normally a gap between the 2. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works)…

Found by Brady Treneer on the St. Croix river, Robbinston, Maine, USA. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. The manufacturer of this brick is unknown but I am beginning to lean heavily toward it being a Gartcraig brick due to the volume of Gartcraigs that turn up on foreign shores. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works,…

An interesting couple of bricks with dubious origins. This ETNA 2 brick was found in Russia by  Vladimir Smirnov. It was found near to the TROTTE 10 brick. The ETNA does not look like the ETNA bricks manufactured in West Lothian. Both Vladimir and I believe this is a forged ETNA brick. It is possible…

This example was found in an old Bakery, Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina by Deigo Maciel. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co Ltd, Bonnybridge. alt Calder Firebrick Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. alt Chapelhall Works, Lanarkshire. Hepworth Ceramic Holdings plc (GR-Stein Refractories Ltd. parent co) bought the Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co. Ltd in 1972, closed Bonnybridge works in 1973…

Found by Aimee Surprenant in a house built in 1875  in St. John’s NL, Canada. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co Ltd, Bonnybridge. alt Calder Firebrick Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. alt Chapelhall Works, Lanarkshire. Hepworth Ceramic Holdings plc (GR-Stein Refractories Ltd. parent co) bought the Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co. Ltd in 1972, closed Bonnybridge works in…