Preston Grange brick found in Russia
— 24/04/2026Found by Vladimir Smirnov in St Petersburg, Russia. Prestongrange Brick, Tile and Fireclay Works, Prestonpans, East Lothian. . . . Below – P G = Preston Grange
This brick was found in St Petersburg, Russia by Vladimir Smirnov.
The manufacturer is unknown.
The ‘look’ and fabric of the brick does suggest Scottish origins but …
In particular, the brick has a ‘look’ of a P & M Hurll, Glenboig product.
Ian Suddaby has suggested one possibility – The Lanarkshire Steelworks, Motherwell, Scotland was known locally as the ‘Shire’. They would use large numbers of fire bricks such as this example. Perhaps it was manufactured by Hurll and stamped ‘Shire’ to denote the customer ( as many fire bricks were). For some reason, it thereafter found itself on a ship destined for Russia instead of going to the local ‘Shire’ Steelworks – It is a long shot but an enthralling idea.

Found by Vladimir Smirnov in St Petersburg, Russia. Prestongrange Brick, Tile and Fireclay Works, Prestonpans, East Lothian. . . . Below – P G = Preston Grange
This brick was found on a beach in Ottawa, Canada. (Finder wished to remain anonymous online). Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire Alternative brickworks include: Gartliston Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Building bricks at Garscadden Works, Drumchapel. .
Many thanks to Vladimir Smirnov for the following information. Vladimir states – Unfortunately, there is practically no information about this find. The brick was found in the excavation waste in the downtown area of St.Petersburg, Russia. It is in the possession of Pavel Ilatowsky, the brick collector from the Karelia region. The manufacturer of this…
Found by Leonid Semushin in Arkhangelsk, Russia. 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 and closed Chapelhall in 1980. Therefore between…
This brick is in the possession of Vladimir Smirnov and was found in the St Petersburg area. Blochairn Sand and Fire Clay Co, Blochairn, Glasgow. . . . .
Many thanks to Vladimir Smirnov for highlighting this brick to me which was found in the vicinity of the St. Petersburg Region, Gatchina Region, Russia by a brick collector, Alexander Korolev. It was discovered the stove of a private house. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein &…
Found in the Bo’ness area. I am not in possession of this example. Although this is broken there is little doubt it was stamped 60 – 69 and was a circle brick. Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Gartliston Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Building bricks at Garscadden Works, Drumchapel.
Found at the Manuel Brickworks, Whitecross. This is a broken special product. The top, left and right sides are intact and shaped as you see them but it is broken along the bottom edge. The manufacturer is unknown but the find site would suggest it was made at the Manuel Brickworks. GAH may well represent…
Found by Flipp Metlin in a basement floor in Saint Petersburg, on Vasilievskiy Island, Russia. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire It is likely there is a dash and a downward arrow stamped on the right of the brick…
Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire Alternative brickworks include: Gartliston Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Building bricks at Garscadden Works, Drumchapel. (Note – SBC – the letter ‘U’ is slightly smaller than the rest. It is believed that this stamp may have been used by a specific moulder or…
