Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

By Kenneth W Sanderson

A must-read if you are at all interested in the subject of the Scottish brick industry and in particular the refractory side of the business.

It refers in detail to the 3 ‘stalwarts’ of the Scottish refractory industry namely

James Dunnachie 1835 – 1921

William Douglas 1855 – 1937

John G Stein 1862 – 1927

The author describes in detail various selected brickworks of Scotland and he is able to supply and quote many details that I have not read anywhere else.  A truly fascinating read. The following Companies are referred to in detail.

FIFE

APPIN FIRECLAY WORKS – Townhill, Dunfermline

BLAIRADAM BRICKWORKS – Kelty

HILL OF BEITH COAL & FIRECLAY WORKS – Cowdenbeath

INVERKEITHING FIRECLAY WORKS – Inverkeithing

LILLIEHILL FIRECLAY WORKS – Townhill, Dunfermline

LOCHHEAD FIRECLAY WORKS – Lochhead, Dunfermline

LOCHSIDE COAL & FIRECLAY WORKS – Townhill, Dunfermline

SUNNYBANK FIRECLAY MINE – Pitreavie, Dunfermline, Fife

DUNBARTONSHIRE (Detached portion)

ABRONHILL FIRECLAY MINE – Castlecary

ARNS FIRECLAY MINE – Garbethill, Dunbartonshire

GLENVAULT & CAMPSIE FIRECLAY, LIME & COAL LTD

CASTLECARY FIRECLAY COMPANY LTD – Castlecary

CLACKMANNANSHIRE

ALLOA BRICK & TILE WORKS – Craigward, Alloa

ALVA BRICKWORKS

DEVONSIDE BRICKWORKS – Tillicoultry – John Govan 1896

DOLLARMAINS BRICKWORKS (Managed by W & J. Carmichael)

DOLLARFIELD BRICKWORKS (Managed by Alexander Brodie)

HILTON FIRECLAY, BRICK & TILE WORKS – Alloa

AYRSHIRE

AYRSHIRE BAUXITIC CLAY COMPANY LTD.

AYRSHIRE BRICK & FIRECLAY COMPANY LTD – Carsehead

BOURTREEHILL FIRECLAY WORKS – Dreghorn

J & M CRAIG LTD – Kilmarnock

DOUGLAS FIREBRICK COMPANY LTD – Dalry

J & R HOWIE LTD – Hurlford

KENNETH & SONS LTD – Montgomery Colliery, Dreghorn

SOUTHHOOK FIRECLAY WORKS – Dreghorn

ADAM PICT FIRECLAY COMPANY – Border Quarry, Saltcoats

ARDEER BRICK & TILE WORKS – Stevenson

BALGRAY BAUXITE COMPANY LTD – Fardalehill Mine

DUNASKIN FIRECLAY WORKS – Dalmellington

EGLINTON IRON FIRECLAY WORKS – Kilwinning

GARGIESTON TILEWORKS – Kilmarnock

GAROCHHILL & DUCHRAY COAL COMPANY LTD

GLENBUCK FIRECLAY WORKS – Glenbuck

HUGH JACK – Dalry

LANGBAR BRICKWORKS – Glengarnock

LUGAR BRICKWORKS – Cumnock

LYLESTONE BRICK & PIPE WORKS – Kilwinning

MACKAY & CO –Beith

MUIRKIRK BRICKWORKS – Muirkirk

OASTLER & CO – Kilmarnock

JAMES OLIPHANT – Dalry

PORTLAND COLLIERY BRICKWORKS – Crookedholm, Hurlford

REDSTONE FIRECLAY WORKS – Kilwinning

PETER SPENCE, later LAPORTE CHEMICALS LTD

GEORGE TAYLOR – Annbank

LANARKSHIRE

GARNKIRK FIRECLAY COMPANY – Garnkirk

HEATHFIELD & CARDOWAN FIRECLAY COMPANY LTD – Garnkirk

GLENBOIG UNION FIRECLAY COMPANY LTD

P & M HURLL LTD – Glenboig

GARTCRAIG COAL & FIRECLAY CO LTD (later Gartcraig Fireclay Co Ltd)

GARTCOSH SILICA & FIRECLAY COMPANY

AIRDRIE BRICKWORKS – Airdrie

BARLINNIE FIRECLAAY WORKS –Millerston, Glasgow

BERRYHILL FIRECLAY & COAL COMPANY – Greengairs

BLOCHAIRN SAND AND FIRECLAY COMPANY – Blochairn, Lanarkshire

P.S BROWNLEE & CO – Glasgow

CALDERBANK FIRECLAY WORKS – by Airdrie

CALDER FIREBRICK COMPANY – Carnbroe

CALDER IRON BRICKWORKS – Wifflet, Coatbridge

CARFIN COAL & FIRECLAY WORKS – Motherwell

CASTLEVIEW FIRECLAY MINE – Bothwell, Lanarkshire

CRANHILL FIRECLAY WORKS – Millerston, Glasgow

COLTNESS IRON COMPANY – Newmains

CLYDE IRONWORKS FIRECLAY WORKS – Carmyle

EGLINTON SILICA BRICKWORKS – Dundyvan, Coatbridge

FASKINE & PALACECRAIG BRICKWORKS – near Airdrie

FLAXMILL FIRECLAY WORKS – Wishaw

GARTSHERRIE IRONWORKS FIRECLAY WORKS – Gartsherrie

GARTVERRIE FIRECLAY WORKS – Glenboig

GREENFOOT AND GAIN SAND & FIRECLAY WORKS – Glenmavis, by Airdrie

HEATHERY KNOWE COAL CO – Baillieston

W HUDSPITH & CO – Wishaw

THOMAS KING & CO – Motherwell

LARKHALL BRICKFIELDS LTD – Larkhall

LARKHALL FIRECLAY COMPANY LTD – Larkhall

LARKHALL SILICA & COAL COMPANY LTD – Larkhall

LOUDEN RUSSELL LTD – Newmains, Lanarkshire

MEADOW BRICKWORKS – Braidwood, Carluke

MORNINGSIDE FIRECLAY CO LTD – Allanton, Newmains

MOTHERWELL FIRECLAY CO LTD – Motherwell

PROVANHALL COLLIERY & FIREBRICK WORKS – near Garnkirk

RAWMOAN FIRECLAY PIT – Glenboig

RAWYARDS BRICKWORKS – Airdrie

RYDEN FIRECLAY COMPANY LTD – Glenmavis, Airdrie

SHAWRIGG FIRECLAY and ENAMELLING CO LTD – Larkhall

THE LOTHIANS

ABERCORN FIRECLAY WORKS – Portobello

AITKENDEAN COAL & FIRECLAY COMPANY LTD – Carrington

BANK PARK FIRECLAY WORKS – Tranent

BALLENCRIEFF FIRECLAY MINE – Bathgate

BARBAUCHLAW FIRECLAY WORKS – Armadale

BOGHEAD FIRECLAY WORKS – Bathville

EDMONSTONE FIRECLAY WORKS – Millerhill, Dalkieth

GOREBRIDGE COAL & FIRECLAY WORKS – Gorebridge

NIDDRIE FIRECLAY WORKS – Niddrie

PRESTONGRANGE BRICK & FIRECLAY WORKS – Morison’s Haven

SMEATON FIRECLAY WORKS – Dalkeith

WHITEHILL FIRECLAY WORKS – Rosewell

WHITERIGG FIRECLAY MINE – East Whitburn

UNITED FIRECLAY PRODUCTS LTD – Bathgate, West Lothian

RENFREWSHIRE

ROBERT and DANIEL ADAM – Nitshill

ROBERT BROWN & SONS LTD, FERGUSLIE FIRECLAY WORKS – Paisley

DARNLEY FIRECLAY MINE – Barrhead

MALLSMIRRE FIRECLAY WORKS – Polmadie

SHANKS & CO LTD – Barrhead

SPEIRS, GIBB & CO  – Paisley

STAND FIRECLAY CO LTD, VICTORIA POTTERY – Barrhead

ROXBURGHSHIRE

TURRET REFRACTORIES LTD – Kelso

STIRLINGSHIRE

BONNYBRIDGE SILICA & FIRECLAY COMPANY LTD  – (later Bonnybridge Refractories Ltd)

CAMPBELL & CO (ROUGHCASTLE) LTD – High Bonnybridge

CRAIGEND BRICKWORKS LTD – Muiravonside (later Craigend Refractories Ltd)

JAMES DOUGALL & SONS LTD – Bonnybridge

JOHN G. STEIN & COMPANY LTD – Bonnybridge

J & A TOWERS LTD, GRAHAMSTON FIREBRICK WORKS – Falkirk

GEORGE TURNBULL & CO LTD, DYKEHEAD GANISTER & FIRECLAY CO LTD

R ADIE & SONS LTD, HERBERTSHIRE COLLIERY – Denny

JAMES ANDERSON & CO LTD  – Glenyards, Cannerton and Dennyloanhead Brickworks

BIRKHILL FIRECLAY MINE – Avonbank, Polmont

BLEACHFIELD BRICK, TILE & FIRECLAY WORKS – Falkirk

BONNYBURN MINE –Auchincloch, Kilsyth

BRAIDWOOD REFRACTORIES LTD – Bonnybridge

BROOMHILL FIRECLAY WORKS – High Bonnybridge

CALLENDAR BRICK & FIRECLAY WORKS – Glen Village, Falkirk

CARBROOK MINE – Torwood, near Larbert

CARRON IRON BRICKWORKS – Falkirk

COCHRAN’S BRICKWORKS – High Bonnybridge

FALKIRK FIRECLAY WORKS – South Bantaskine

FIRS BRICK, TILE & POTTERY WORKS – Falkirk

GLENYARDS FIRECLAY COMPANY LTD – Greenhill, Bonnybridge

GRANGEMOUTH FIREBRICK & TILE WORKS – Skinflats, Grangemouth

GREENHILL FIRECLAY WORKS – Clayknowes, Bonnybridge

GOWANBANK BRICK & TILE WORKS – Grahamston, Falkirk

INCHES FIRECLAY MINE – Larbert

KINNEIL FIRECLAY WORKS – Bo’ness

LARBERT FIRECLAY 7 GANISTER MINE – Larbert

MILLSTONE GRIT & FIRECLAY LTD – Denny

RAEWELL FIREBRICK WORKS – Meadow Bank, Polmont

SMITH & WELLSTOOD BRICKWORKS – Bonnybridge

TIPPETCRAIG FIRECLAY MINE – Cadgersloan, High Bonnybridge

TOD’S MILL – Avonbank, Polmont

TORWOOD MINE – near Larbert

WALLHOUSE MINE – Torphichen

Below – Beehive up-draught kilns at Stein’s Milnquarter Works, 1895