Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

(Note – SBH – There appear to be possibly two sites named Annandale Brickworks – Annandale Brickworks, Crosshouse, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire and Annandale Colliery and Brickworks, Mauchline, East Ayrshire – hopefully, clarification will follow!)

Canmore

Below – 1929 – Kilmarnock Standard 10/03/1989 – The men of Annandale Brickworks, January 1929.

06/07/1929 – Belfast Telegraph – Bricks. Another large consignment of Annandale Scotch bricks has just arrived. Regular supplies to be had ex our stores. John R Noble Ltd, Coal Importers, Queen’s Quay

04/09/1929 – Belfast Telegraph – Bricks. Regular supplies of Scotch Annandale bricks are now available. John R Noble Ltd, Coal Importers, Queen’s Quay.

23/03/1934 – Motherwell Times – Good news for Coalburn district – It was officially announced on Saturday that William Dixon Ltd., coalmasters, Glasgow, had acquired from Mr A. S. Macharg, C.A., Glasgow, the liquidator of the Caprington and Auchlochan Collieries Ltd., the pits in the Coalburn area, which originally formed part of the mineral subjects worked by the firm in the County. For the past two years, the pits in Coalburn have been carried on under the management of Mr David Todd, who held his appointment under the liquidator. It is understood that Mr Todd is now to devote his whole time to the development of the Annandale Colliery and Brickworks, Mauchline, Ayrshire, which comprises another part of Auchlochan Collieries controlled by the liquidator. Despite the difficulties of the times, fairly steady employment has been found at Coalburn during the past two years for nearly 800 mineworkers, but the acquisition of the subjects thereby Dixon Ltd. is expected to give a new lease of life to mining in this part of the Upper Ward of the County. At one time the field was almost derelict, but the liquidator stepped in, and, with the assistance of Mr Todd, secured arrangements with the men which made it possible to work and maintain the collieries with a fair measure of success. It was stated on Saturday that Dixon Ltd., intends to retain the staff and the miners at the Coalburn pits and to embark as soon as practicable on a big scheme of development involving the dewatering of the lower seams. This expected to prove a costly undertaking, but it is fraught with great possibilities for this area of the Upper Ward, where there are believed to be abundant supplies of coal. William Dixon Ltd., have already considerable interests in this area, having collieries in Blantyre, Carfin, Polkemmet, and Wilsontown. Their acquisition of the Auchlochan Collieries is regarded as the most encouraging news that has reached Coalburn district for years.

23/08/1934 – Belfast Telegraph – Brick! Brick! Brick! Shipments of best quality Annandale Brick arranged on short notice. John R Noble, Queen’s Quay.

10/09/1934 – The Scotsman – Colliery purchase – Bairds and Dalmellington – Mauchline workings – Mauchline Colliery, Ayrshire which originally belonged to the Caprington and Auchlochan Collieries Ltd, now in liquidation, has been acquired by Bairds and Dalmellington Co Ltd, a coal combine which has substantial interests in the same county. The figure reported to have been paid for the concern at Mauchline was £60,500.  The area of untapped minerals around Mauchline is one of the largest in Scotland, and with the development expected to be undertaken by the new owners of the colliery, work will be found for a considerable number of miners and other workers. Inquiry in the district reveals that 400 men are normally regularly employed at the pits but this figure is expected to be augmented when the new owners take possession. The liquidator of the Caprington and Auchlochan Collieries Ltd, Mr A. S. Macharg, C. A. Glasgow has intimated the acquisition of Mauchline Colliery by the Bairds and Dalmellington Co. to the creditors in a report just issued detailing the progress made since he took over the realisation of the estate. The undertakings of the Company, he explains, have been, carried on since April 1932, and have resulted in a profit of £18, 333 after providing for all charges, including the cost of the gradual development of Mauchline Colliery.  The Auchlochan pits of the Company have in the interval been acquired by William Dixon (Ltd.) for a substantial figure, while, the sale of Mauchline Colliery had also been agreed to. It was estimated that there would be available to the creditors a substantial sum. Mr Macharg explains that he will be left with the Annandale Brickworks which have a productive capacity of 1,750,000 common bricks per annum, and Annandale Colliery, where unwatering operations had been carried on. The dewatering of the colliery had been so successful that coal and blaes suitable for the brickworks was now being produced. Bourtreehill Fireclay Works had also been carried on successfully by the liquidator, and from the profits realised during the past year, a considerable sum had been applied to the reduction of debt. The liquidator concludes his report by acknowledging the valued services rendered by the committee who cooperated with him in the realisation of the subjects, Mr David Todd, the mining agent, and the members of staff.

28/09/1934 – Kilmarnock Herald – Operations to begin at Annandale Colliery. First move since the close down in 1928 – Hopeful news of returning prosperity is contained in the announcement that mining operations have been resumed at Annandale Colliery, Kilmarnock. The Herald is able to reveal that the pa is now being reconditioned preparatory to work re-commencing. Since 1928 when the Caprington and Auchlochan Collieries Ltd., went into liquidation, Annandale has remained closed. It is understood that the collieries have been re-opened owing to the necessity for finding material to supply the large output of the adjacent brickworks which are owned by the same company. A Herald representative was told yesterday that water had been allowed to rise in the shafts of the disused pit during the years it has stood idle. 30 men are now engaged in pumping operations and in excavating clay and coal. New coal cutting machines are also being installed and the management confidently expects that a further 100 men will be employed as work progresses. At present, the brickworks are producing one-and-three-quarter million bricks per month—an average of about sixty-four thousand a day. Many of the bricks are being shipped to Ireland. Housing schemes in Glasgow and the south of Scotland are also being supplied. It is primarily to supply the brickworks that the colliery has been reopened, but it is expected that activities will be extended to supply other interests as time goes on.  Since Annandale closed, the business has been carried on by a liquidator who has succeeded in disposing of the colliery at Mauchline and one at Auchlochan, Lanarkshire. The staff at Annandale has been reorganised and has worked under his direction to such good effect that the Company has been able to reopen this old colliery and bring hope once more to a distressed area. The clay in the workings of Annandale Colliery is particularly good for all classes of fireclay work and 100 men at the brickworks have been kept in steady employment for the past two-and-a-half years.

10/01/1936 – Kilmarnock Herald – Mr David Todd, formerly agent with the Auchlochan Collieries Ltd has received an appointment with Messrs A Kenneth and Sons, Dreghorn. He will have charge of a group of collieries including Annandale Brickworks. Mr Todd is a native of Kilsyth …

Below – 1937 – Annandale Brickworks.

22/05/1937 – Kilmarnock Herald – We learn that the Annandale Brick Company have made preparations to move the Redan Refuse Bing at Garven Road, Stevenston. Some people think that they have begun in a very dangerous spot, that is in the top of the shank of the old pit that used to be there. It is possible that this mine may subside as it did some years ago. There is a considerable danger to anyone working there and we hope the necessary precautions will be taken.

31/12/1942 – Kilmarnock Herald – Theft … John Robertson a private in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and Alexander Kerr, another private in the R.S.F stole a clock from the Annandale Brickworks, Crosshouse on 2nd December …

Below – 1944 – 1967 – Annandale Brickworks, Crosshouse, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.

c. 1945 – 1978 – Scottish Industrial Archaeology Survey – Archibald Kenneth and Sons Ltd are owners.

Below – 13/09/1946 – Kilmarnock Herald – Brickmaking at Annandale. Bricks are made from a mixture of coal pit slag. The mixture goes into this machine in which a slotted cylinder revolves and fills the slots which are, in turn, emptied by the large arm seen into the press on the right from whence they go into the nearby bogie looking like wet rubber blocks. All that is needed after this is firing and then you have bricks … without straw.

Below – 14/06/1947 – The Scotsman – Accident at Annandale Brickworks owned by Archibald Kenneth and Sons Ltd.

12/05/1950 – Kilmarnock Herald – Scottish Industrial Estates Limited of Woodside Place, Glasgow have given notice of their intention to apply to the Ministry of Transport for an order regarding the Kilmarnock Industrial Estate Light Railway line which was recently laid. The line is on the route of the old mineral railway leading to Annandale Brickwork from the Kilmarnock – Gatehead – Troon branch railway line. The light railway will be constructed on a gauge of 4ft 8½ inches. and will run wholly over the lands belonging to or leased to the applicants and no land is to be acquired compulsorily.

Below – c. 1967 – The following photographs were posted online by Hamish and are believed to be of the Annandale Brickworks c. 1967. (Note – SBH – There is a huge number of dumped bricks in the foreground and background. I should imagine if these were for sale they would be stacked. So are they wasters … surely not due to the volume. It could be that due to the lack of people and vehicles in this photo, it actually dates to a time after the works were closed and the bricks for sale were left abandoned. They could also represent demolished buildings but you would think there would be more blocks of bricks among the piles if this were rubble or debris).

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18/06/1971 – Irvine Herald – Old parish church guild members visit brickworks. Irvine Old Parish Church Men’s Guild members had a most interesting enjoyable outing on Wednesday evening of last week when they visited Annandale Brickworks (A Kenneth & Sons Ltd) Kilmarnock where they were welcomed by Mr J M Highet general manager and secretary of the company Mr Highet is no stranger to the Guild members as he is their hon vice-president.  Introduced to the party were Mr Beaton, works manager and Mr Campbell, commercial manager and under their guidance and expertise the members witnessed the process of making bricks by mechanical means from the raw material – blaes from old pit bings secured throughout the district – to the finished article straight from the kilns. The plant is the latest in the industry and has a machine capable of grinding 24 tons of blaes per hour into a fine powdey form ready for the next machine to turn it into clay and cut and shape into bricks prior to being conveyed by a travelling belt to the kilns to be fired. Roughly 6,000 bricks per hour, it is claimed is the output and they are being extensively used at building sites in many parts of the country. After a most interesting and absorbing round of the plant the guild members were invited to a tearoom where they enjoyed tea or coffee and sandwiches. Thereafter Mr Peter Guild president, expressed the thanks and appreciation of the party to Mr Highet, Mr Beaton and Mr Campbell for all the kindness and consideration shown to them during evening and this was heartily endorsed by the members.

Below – 21/03/1975 – Irvine Herald – Kenneth Building Services Ltd, Dreghorn, Ayrshire. Oldest established makers of top quality bricks in West Scotland producing all strengths of common and load-bearing bricks up to class 6 – BS 3921. Brickworks – Broadlie, Dalry. Pitcon, Dalry. Anandale, Kilmarnock and Commondyke, Auchinleck. Also washed sand and gravel plant at Shewalton, Irvine.

1978 – Scottish Industrial Archaeology Survey – Scottish Brick Company are owners.

25/05/1979 – Kilmarnock Standard – Police at Kilmarnock are investigating the theft of 2½ tons of non-ferrous metal, worth about £800 from Annandale Brickworks at Annandale, Kilmarnock.

27/07/1979 – Kilmarnock Standard – Planning permissions … Scottish Brick Company Limited, Glasgow to erect a building to house a brick machine at Annandale Brickworks, Kilmarnock.

19/11/1982 – Kilmarnock Standard – Planning application – SSEB for a proposed electricity substation at Annandale Brickworks, Kilmarnock.

14/01/1983 – Kilmarnock Standard – Two further applications to the district council by British Transport Advertising Ltd for two refreshing hoardings Kilmarnock Railway Station and by Scottish Brick Corporation Ltd for a freestanding signboard at the junction of Irvine Road and the access road to Annandale Brickworks, Kilmarnock.

1984 – Scottish Industrial Archaeology Survey – Glasgow Iron and Steel Company are owners.

09/03/1984 – Irvine Herald – A clerk is required to cover for holidays sickness etc at Annandale Brickworks, Irvine Road, Kilmarnock. At least four weeks’ employment is guaranteed each year. Suitable possibly for early retirer. Apply to: Scottish Brick Corporation Ltd 375 West George St Glasgow G2 4LU.

Below – 17/01/1986 – Irvine Herald – Giscol brick lorry being loaded with facing bricks at Annandale Brickworks, Kilmarnock for projects in England.

More than £100,000 has been invested in the past year on new plant and machinery to upgrade Giscol Bricks existing works in Ayrshire. The brickworks are Pitcon and Broadlie at Dairy and Annandale at Kilmarnock. A substantial market for facing bricks has been developed from the Annandale works with many orders coming from the north of England and more recently bricks have been supplied to a number of sites in the London area Southampton and Bournemouth. The development at Annandale is expected to ensure a secure future for the works and continuing employment for the 120 staff of a staff throughout Ayrshire. In addition to facing bricks to England, Giscol are also supplying common bricks from their Dalry plants to the Liverpool-Manchester area where they are being used to blend with existing buildings. It is intended to develop the Pitcon works to fully exploit this potential market. Giscol have spent a further £25,000 in providing access to a bing at Lamridden in North Ayrshire. The bing has 30 years of material which will be used to produce the traditional Ayrshire clay common brick, for example, well fired, sharp arrises and good colour The investment in the bing is all part of the process of upgrading the quality of products from Giscol’s three Ayrshire works. Production of bricks by Giscol is now considered of such quality that they were used in the restoration of property in Ayr where bricks of a certain specification were necessary. Pitcon were able to provide old imperial-sized bricks to closely match the rest of the development. With a quality local product available Giscol are disappointed that local authorities in Ayrshire have in the past 10 years used materials manufactured outside the area. An information drive will be mounted to make Cunninghame District Council, Kilmarnock and Loudoun District Council, Kyle and Carrick District Council and other Strathclyde Region offices aware of developments at Giscol.

27/05/1988 – Kilmarnock Standard – Planning application – D Azraitis, 2 Duke Street, Galston for installation of LPG storage tanks, erection of filling shed and ancillary filling equipment at former Annandale Brickworks, Irvine Road, Kilmarnock. (Note – SBH – This suggests the brickworks were closed pre-May 1988).

c. 1990 – The brickworks were closed by this date.  (Note – SBH – Can anyone confirm this date please?)

14/01/1995 – Irvine Herald –  Application for change of use – Annandale Brickworks, Irvine Road, Kilmarnock  – change of land use to car dismantlers and installation of 3 storage containers and a portocabin.