The site itself is not identified on the ordnance survey maps for the area, however on the north side of the Stirling to Falkirk railway line as it bisects Falkirk,(NS 884 804) 3 buildings are marked Bleachfield. In addition to the south of the railway, another site is marked Kilns house and old kilns. – Source Falkirk Museum and Archives
Below – 1860 – Bleachfield, Falkirk.
13/05/1876 – Falkirk Herald – A new brickwork. A letter was read from Mr Thomas Reid, Bathgate, submitting plans of, and asking permission to build a brickwork in a field to the west of the Grahamston railway bridge, bought from Messrs James Aitken & Co., brewers. Mr Reid in his letter stated that the works would be built the most approved principle, that the greater part of the smoke would be burned and the steam-condensed, and that there would be no foul gas. He also asked permission to put up temporarily, a few open kilns, in which to burn bricks to build a stalk with. The Council, in the absence of any specific information as to the buddings, declined to give consent to their erection in the meantime, reserving, however, to Mr Reid to renew his application with further information … (Note SBH – Thomas Reid was concerned with at least the Bleachfield and the Springfield Brickworks, Falkirk. I am uncertain which brickworks this article refers to but Bleachfield looks the more likely).
1878 – Thomas Reid, Bleachfield Brickworks, Falkirk.
1882 – Thomas Reid, Bleachfield Brickworks, Falkirk. House Alma Street, Grahamston.
Below – 1886 – Advert John D Crockett, Bleachfield Brick, Tile and Fireclay Works, Falkirk
1886 – John D Crockett, brick and tile manufacturer, Bleachfield Brick & Tile works, Falkirk. Res Annan Villa, Lady’s Mill. (Page 1238).
16/11/1887 – Falkirk Herald – Break up sale at Bleachfield Brickworks – The machinery and implements at Bleachfield brickworks were yesterday offered for sale in lots and realised over £300. In October last the plant failed to find a purchaser at an upset price of £250.
By 1922 the ordnance survey maps show the sites had been incorporated into the Parkhouse Ironworks. Today a school is situated on the site. Source Falkirk Archives.
Canmore – … The primary gun platforms were of slab stone construction over sloping mortar footings. The brick-faced parapet was built directly onto the wide stone wall which forms the outer face of the main rampart … Temporary Brickfield – Moses Jenkins – Where no permanent brickworks existed and transportation was difficult, temporary brickmaking operations, known as…
Springfield Brickworks, Falkirk, Stirlingshire. (Note – SBH – I cannot find any such brickworks marked on the maps but the Firs Brick and Tile Works were situated very close to the Springfield area and were perhaps one of the same?) 1886 – 1887 – Thomas Reid, Brickmaker, Springfield Brickworks, Falkirk, Stirlingshire. Below – 1896 –…
Naval Base, Rosyth, Fife – This should be read in conjunction with Cruicks Pottery and Terracotta Works, Inverkeithing. Bricks to be manufactured on-site? 24/11/1906 – It is understood that the Tilbury Dock Company have acquired the Cruicks Quarry at Inverkeithing, which was carried on by Messrs Street Brothers. The Tilbury Coy. also acquired a large tract of…
It is suggested that wherever there is mention of the term ‘brickfield’ then it is entirely possible that this represents a temporary kiln and brick manufacturing set up. It is possible that the excavated clay and the kiln are used to manufacture bricks to build a nearby structure and once this structure is finished then…
(Note – SBH – This would appear not to be part of the Blochairn Sand and Fire Clay Company albeit it was probably situated very close by). 19/07/1899 – Glasgow Herald -A special sub-committee of Glasgow Corporation on the utilisation of the clay in the lands of Eastern Blochairn has decided to recommend the Corporation…
Dubs and Company of Glasgow Locomotive Works, Polmadie, Glasgow 1863 – Dubs and Company were a locomotive works in Glasgow, Scotland, founded by Henry Dubs in 1863. He was previously with Neilson and Co; on leaving Neilsons he took a number of key staff with him. This became a very successful locomotive manufacturing company. 1866…
