Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

(Note – SBH – The info below is confusing as James Allan and Thomas Hamilton appear to swap ownership/management of these works on a regular basis. In 1878 they both appear to be there at the same time. So have I got something wrong here? Could there have been 2 sites at Auchengray near Carnwath or were they in a partnership or was one the owner and one the manager? Any info to clarify the situation will be gratefully received).

Originally these works were known as the Braidwood Tileworks. They later moved to the other side of the railway and became the Braidwood Brick and Tile Works. The date of this move appears to be unknown.

Canmore  – Braidwood Tileworks.

Canmore  – Braidwood Brick and Tile Works.

Canmore – Braidwood Brick and Tile Works alt The Thornice Brick and Tile Works.

Below – 28/03/1845 – Glasgow Herald – Could this be the original sale of the land that formed the Braidwood Brickworks that Hamilton worked or does this newspaper article refer to one of the several other Braidwood Brickworks.

18/05/1850 – Perry’s Bankrupt Gazette – Partnerships dissolved – Thomas and William Hamilton of Westwood and Hallcraig, Carluke, tile and brick manufacturers – 1st May. Debts by T Hamilton.

1853 – Invoice – Thomas Hamilton, tile manufacturer, Overton near Kirknewton. Works – Auchengray by Carnwath and Newbigging by Broxburn and Hallcraig by Carluke and Braidwood by Carluke. The reference to Overton, Kirknewton is perhaps Mr Hamilton’s residence and office?

Below  – 22/12/1855  – Invoice – Thomas Hamilton Tile manufacturer, Overton near Kirknewton. House Auchengray Cottage.

Works Auchengray by Carnwath.

Hallcraig by Carluke

Nellfield by Carluke

Newbigging by Broxburn

1860 1 1/2 pipes and collars £2 and 5 shilling

300 bricks for 10/6

Below – 1857 – 1858 – Braidwood Tileworks. (Note – SBH – by 1896 the works had moved to the other side of the railway).

Below – 1858 – 1859 – Braidwood Tileworks.

Below – 19/12/1859 – Glasgow Herald – Clay and limestone on the Estate of Braidwood, Carluke to be let … Clay for brick and tile manufacture – The clay lies along the north-east side of the Caledonian Railway and close to Braidwood. The clay is of the best quality, of more than the average thickness and possessing facilities for easy working … apply to the proprietor of Braidwood House … (Note: SBH – I am uncertain as to which brickworks this may relate to but the reference to NE of the railway could be pointing to the area of the original Braidwood Tileworks).

1860 – 1861 – Extract from Valuation Rolls – Thomas Hamilton, Tile Maker, Hallcraig Clay Field. House – Schoularhall. Misses Robertson owned the land.

Below – 21/06/1861 – Invoice – Thomas Hamilton, brick and tile manufacturer. Park House, Carstairs

Works Auchengray by Carnwath

Pool by Carnwath

Glenboe by Pittinain Lanark

Hallcraig, Braidwood and Waterlands by Carluke.

500 4″ pipes – £1 and 5 shilling

3350 2 inch pipes – £ and 17 shillings and 1/2d

2000 2 ” pipes – £2 and 6 shillings

1867 – Thomas Hamilton Brick Tile and Drain Pipe Manufacturer, Park Houses Carstairs. Works – Auchengray by Carnwath, Pool by Carnwath, Carmichael by Lanark, Braidwood by Carluke and Corehouse by Lanark. Note also a new design in roof tiles – a 2 ribbed version.

1868 – Invoice – Thomas Hamilton, brick and tile manufacturer, Parkhouse, Carstairs. Works – Auchengray by Carnwath and Pool by Carnwath and Carmichael by Lanark and Braidwood by Carluke and Waterlands by Carluke and Corehouse by Lanark. The reference to Parkhouse, Carstairs may be Mr Hamilton’s residence and office?

Below – 04/12/1869 – Hamilton Advertiser – James Allan, works at Braidwood Station via Carluke …byre blocks … new invention …

1878 – Thomas Hamilton, Park House Carstairs Junction. Works Braidwood by Carnwath.

1882 – Thomas Hamilton, brick and tile Maker, Braidwood Brickworks. Office  Park House Carstairs Junction.

Below – 1882 – Scottish brickmakers adverts.

1883 – Thomas Hamilton, brick and tile manufacturer, Carluke.

1886 – James Allan, brick and tile and agricultural drain pipe manufacturers, Auchengray and Braidwood Brickworks. Office Hillhead Cottage, Carluke. (Note – SBH – Were James Allan and Thomas Hamilton in a partnership?) (Page 886).

1886 – Thomas Hamilton, Park House Carstairs Junction. Works Braidwood by Carnwath and Auchengray.

Below – 1886 – Thomas Hamilton, Braidwood by Carluke.

01/10/1887 – Hamilton Advertiser – Sale of bricks and tiles at Braidwood and Auchengray. The trustee on the sequestrated estates of Mr James Allan, brick, tile and manure manufacturer, Hillhead Cottage, Carluke now offers the whole of the stock of bricks and tiles at the above works at greatly reduced prices, in order to effect a complete realisation of same. Prices on application to Mr Clarkson at the works, Braidwood or Auchengray …

Below – 1896 – Braidwood Brick and Tile Works.

1897 – Thomas Hamilton, Brick and Tile Maker, Braidwood Brick and Tile Works.

1901 – Directory of clay workers – Thomas Hamilton, Park House Carstairs Junction, N.B. Field drain pipes. Work address Briadwood Tile Works, Carluke. N.B..

11/08/1902 – The Scotsman dated 12/08/1902 – Deaths. At Park House, Carstairs Junction on 11th inst, Thomas Hamilton, brick and tile manufacturer in his 89th year. Funeral Thursday 14th curt at one o’clock afternoon to Carstairs Churchyard. Friends will accept this intimation and invitation.

16/08/1902 – The Scotsman – Notice. All persons having claims against the late Mr Thomas Hamilton, brick and tile maker at Cumwhinton near Carlisle and Braidwood Works, Lanarkshire who resided at Park Hous, Carstairs are requested to lodge the same, duly vouched, with the subscriber within fourteen days from this date. All persons indebted to the said Thomas Hamilton are requested to make payment to their accounts at the Cumwhinton and Braidwood Works within the same period. Wm Duncan, S.S.C, agent for Mr Hamilton’s executors, 18 York Place, Edinburgh. 15/08/1902.

Below – 18/10/1902 – The Scotsman – Braidwood Brick and Tile Works for sale as carried on by the late Thomas Hamilton.

11/07/1908 – Carluke and Lanark Gazette – Braidwood. On Thursday last week, a young man named William Gardiner was injured in the tilework. He was caught by a link in the rope which drives the tile machine and thrown to the ground with some violence, sustaining a deep cut on the head. He was attended by Dr Barr.

Below – 1910 – Braidwood Brick and Tile Works.

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Cumwhinton Brick and Tile Works, Carlisle, England  – About 1883, Thomas Hamilton who owned Braidwood Brick and Tile Works and Auchengray Brick and Tile Works in Lanarkshire opened Cumwhinton Brick and Tile Works in Cumberland, about 4 miles east of Carlisle. William Hamilton was appointed the manager.

1891 census has William Hamilton and family residing at 92 Parkhead, Wetheral, Cumbria. He was 41 years old and working as a brick and tile maker. His place of birth is given as Scotland.

In 1901 James Hamilton, Williams’s son was appointed the manager. Thomas retired in 1902 and the Cumwhinton site was sold.

Below – 01/03/1902 – The Scotsman – Cumwhinton Brick and Tile Works for sale.

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Below – 2015 – Study into the historical development of the Clyde and Avon Landscapes.