28/12/1895 – Alloa Advertiser – New coal and clay supply – A Cowdenbeath firm have opened a shaft at Blairingone near to the established Church Manse there and are getting a good supply of coal. The seam of coal is 3 1/2 feet thick and above and below the seam is a 2 1/2 foot layer of fine clay which is being used by Messrs W.R & J Carmichael, brick makers and C. Buick & Sons, Hilton Brick Works, Alloa.
10/11/1905 – Musselburgh – An comprehensive article describing the working life of Robert Martin, b. 02/11/1851 currently colliery manager, Niddrie Collieries, Portobello … Mr Martin’s first appointment as a colliery manager was under the Uphall Oil Company at their coal pit at Armadale. This was when he was only 22 years of age and he was appointed under the clause in the Mines Act of 1872 which required him to sit for his certificate at the next examination. In 1874 be was successful at Glasgow and he recalls that one of the examiners was Mr James McCreath, M.E., of that city, who at the present time visits Niddrie Collieries in the interests of one of the landlords, Sir James Miller of Manderstone. From Armadale, Mr Martin went to Blairingone, Fifeshire, where he was manager, cashier and salesman combined at the coal and fire-clay mine of W. R. and J. Carmichael. From here he crossed over to Ireland under the Eglinton Chemical Company, Glasgow to look after the mines, quarries and harbour at Ballintoy in Co. Antrim …
04/10/1879 – West Lothian Courier – On Monday a somewhat alarming explosion of fire damp took place at the Star Pit, Glenboig but was fortunately unattended with serious results. Hitherto the regular fire clay workings have been entirely free from damp but some had been generated during the driving of a mine through an upthrow….
Below – Information – British Geological Survey – Indian Kyanite. Indian kyanite supplied to the Glenboig Union Fireclay Company Limited 18.2.37 Indian kyanite supplied to the Glenboig Union Fireclay Company Limited 18.2.37 Kyanite is a mineral composed of aluminium silicate. It belongs to the triclinic crystal system and generally forms elongated tabular crystals and is…
Found by Stephen Young in the Edinburgh area. This example is not in my possession. Ridge tiles. W R & J Carmichael, Alloa Brick and Tile Works, Alloa. . . .
19/11/1949 – The Scotsman – New fireclay mine at Niddrie. Messrs Steele Bros of the Niddrie Fireclay Works have started the driving of a fireclay mine close to the burn which forms the Edinburgh City boundary south of Niddrie. Hitherto the firm has drawn its fireclay supplies from Lanarkshire but boring revealed the possibility of…
Robertson, Love & Co were liquidated in 1916 but continued to make firebricks as part of United Collieries Ltd. When coal was nationalised in 1947, the brickworks were reorganised as United Fireclay Products Ltd. and comprised the Etna and Atlas Firebrick Works, the Bathville Pipe Works, the UNICOL Tileworks, all at Armadale and the Brownhill…
04/07/1939 – The Scotsman – Lanark County Council has been given notice by H. M. Inspector of Mines of the abandonment of the following mines … Lauchope Mills Mine Chapelhall, belonging to the Bonnybridge Silica and Fireclay Co, Ltd, Bonnybridge.
Found in the Tillicoultry area. This example is not in my possession. A section of enamelled garden edging with a shell design. W R & J Carmichael, Alloa Brick and Tile Works, Alloa. . . .
(Note – SBH – There appears to be conflicting information regarding the locations of the Darngavil, Craigriggs and Westfield Brickworks and information relating to each. If anyone can clarify or notices any mistakes then please get in touch). Craigrigg Brickworks aka Darngavil Brickworks Ltd, Craigrigg Works, West Lothian. Alternative brickworks include: Darngavil Brickworks Ltd, Darngavil…
Glentore Fireclay Works, Greengairs, Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. These works may have been a fireclay mine as opposed to a works manufacturing products from fireclay. Many thanks to Tony Jervis for identifying these works and supplying much of the information below. This page should be read in conjunction with the Rawyards Brickworks page. The 1936 –…
Dunaskin Fire Clay Works –Dalmellington – Dunaskin Fireclay Mine was owned by the Dalmellington Iron Company from 1866 to c. 1920. They also mined at the Pennyvenie mine and at the Jellieston mine, Patna. They produced taphole clay for blast furnaces and only ever made a few firebricks in the early years. Their biggest product…
