This unmarked red clay brick was found by Ian Suddaby and is interesting for several reasons. Ian states:-
Below – 1852 – 1853 – What appears to be a row of Gunpowder Mills are shown in 1853 alongside the Gore Water at Gorebridge in Midlothian, Scotland.
Down in the river, an impressive sandstone wall with some intriguing openings overlooks the water. I thought this would be a prime location to find some dated Arniston bricks from the 1850s to the 1870s as they were made just down the valley but I found none. In fact, the only brick worth taking was this extruded wire cut example.
I know this is another instance of a niche interest within a niche interest but early extruded bricks cut by an arc wire or blade and with five stab holes from a handling implement are interesting. In this example, the implement backing plate hasn’t left a mark on the brick. Some of the holes might be partly blocked with grit (despite my efforts) but the deepest is 2″ in depth. There are several marks on the brick which might be fingerprints and one header is misshapen, probably from excess kiln heat but possibly from heating during use. A nice addition to my collection of these bricks.
Found by Ian Suddaby at Bonnyside, Bonnybridge. This example is not in my possession. James Dougall & Sons Ltd, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire Alternative brickworks include: Bonnyside Brickworks, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. Below – A similar stamp with a thumbprint to the top right. Found by Ian Suddaby in the Ravenscraig, Motherwell area.
Found by Ian Suddaby in the Ravenscraig, Motherwell area. This example is not in my possession. The manufacturer of this fire brick is unknown. The find location would suggest Scottish origins but … Ian states – Another pile of sieved bricks at the Dalzell/Colville Steelworks dumping ground in Motherwell and another very interesting find. This firebrick is…
Found by Ian Suddaby in the Ravenscraig, Motherwell area. This example is not in my possession. Note the thumbprint to the top right. Lilliehill Fireclay Works, Townhill, Dunfermline, Fife – Robert Lindsay, brick manufacturer. . .
Found by Ray Thorn at Grandbay, New Brunswick, Canada. Note the thumbprint to the top right. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
This brick is in the possession of Chris Tramacchi. It was found in Nerrdrie, Queensland, Australia. Note the thumbprint to the top right. Cumbernauld Fireclay Works, Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire. . . .
Found by Jamie McMillan in Georgian Bay, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. Jamie states – I found one of your old bricks in Georgian Bay, Owen Sound, Ontario on land that belonged to Empire Stove Works and Russel Brothers shipbuilding company, odds are it’s not important but that brick is on my mantle now. Those factories…
Found on the site of the old Manuel Works, Whitecross. The manufacturer of this brick is unknown but it is highly likely it was made at the Manuel Works. Note the fingerprints. 18 or 81? The bricks found so far weigh between 3.1 and 3.5kg . . . . . Below – The same brick…
Found in Townsville, Queensland Australia by Michelle Jonker. This example is not in my possession. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire Note the possible thumbprint to the top right.
The following Scottish bricks were found in Townsville, Queensland, Australia by Michelle Jonker. Michelle states – We live in Townsville, Australia. We recently bought a Queenslander house, that is from the 1920s. A lot of the houses here were brought from Charters Towers after the gold rush ended. Below – ‘Glenboig 30’ with possible thumbprint…
Found by Ian Suddaby at teh site of the old Hilton Brickworks, Alloa. This example is not in my possession. The manufacturer is unknown but there is every chance it was manufactured at the Hilton Works. Ian states – It looks like somebody trod on it whilst it was drying and split the fabric. It’s also…
