September 2016 – “The highlands lime kiln – a rare survivor”
The Aldmere lime kiln is situated beside the Highlands District offices, off Millstream Road, District of Highlands, Vancouver Island, B. C.
Gartcraig Bricks at the Aldermere Lime Kiln. Around the site of the Highlands lime kiln, and among the rubble, can be found yellow firebricks. Probably from the collapsed chimney of the kiln, they can be identified, and add further information about the kiln and its possible dates of use.
Below – A broken brick with the partial embossed name “GARTCRAIG” from the Aldermere (Highlands) limekiln. Photographed September 1, 2016
In Canada, ‘Gartcraig’ bricks have been found in Quebec, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. In British Columbia, they have been found in Creston; and at Burton (Upper Arrow Lakes), as well as in the Highlands.
In 1906, the Robert Ward Co. imported a large quantity of ‘Gartcraig’ firebricks and Fireclay from Scotland to the Victoria market. He sold this shipment over a period of
around six months.
It is likely that the ‘Gartcraig’ bricks at the Aldermere (Highlands) limekiln came from this shipment. Although the Gartcraig Fireclay Company existed from 1876 to c1927, the only mention in the Colonist of anyone importing these bricks from Scotland dates from 1906. It is likely that the kiln was refurbished at that time, given the local availability of the bricks, though the kiln appears to have been abandoned before WW I.
Although it is possible that the bricks had been imported at the time of the construction of the Highlands kiln(s) in 1886 – as the bricks were being manufactured in Scotland as
early as 1876 – it is more likely they date from c1906.
Julkia Rizzi states this Thistle brick was photographed as part of a coal-burning fireplace in a house in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire . .
Found by Sævar Gardarsson in an old house in Reykjavik, Iceland that was built in 1920. Prestongrange Brick and Tile Works, Prestonpans, East Lothian. . . .
Brian Tarbuck states this brick was found in Augusta, Maine, USA while replacing a water pipe. Allan & Mann, Port Eglinton, Glasgow Alternative brickworks include: Rutherglen Pottery, Glasgow. Mallsmire Works, Myrtle Park, Crosshill, Glasgow. ,
Found by John Barnard at Fitzroy, Falkland Islands. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire .
Many thanks to Vladimir Smirnov for highlighting this brick to me which was found in the vicinity of the St. Petersburg Region, Gatchina Region, Russia by a brick collector, Alexander Korolev. It was discovered the stove of a private house. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein &…
Found by Glyn Harrison at an unknown location in New Zealand. This example is not in my possession. Douglas Fireclay Works, Dalry, Ayrshire. The reference to Bigelow on this special undoubtedly refers to the Bigelow Arch Company of Detroit, USA. Bigelow-Liptak Corporation was originally incorporated in 1927 with the merger of the Bigelow Arch Company of…
Found by Ken Sousa in Massachusetts, USA. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
Found by Claudio Ernesto Rios. Claudio states – The bricks were found in the City of Zárate, Buenos Aires, Argentina. In a fridge (almost totally destroyed today) the fridge’s name was Smithfield Refrigerator of English capital, built in 1903, so I would believe those bricks were manufactured in the last decade of the 19th century….
Found by Patricio Peralta in an old bakery, Lincoln, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. “Calder British Made”. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co Ltd, Bonnybridge. alt Calder Firebrick Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. alt Chapelhall Works, Lanarkshire. Hepworth Ceramic Holdings plc (GR-Stein Refractories Ltd. parent co) bought the Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co. Ltd in 1972, closed Bonnybridge…
Found by Senja Salmi in Sääksjärvi, Mäntsälä, Finland. Senja states – We are not sure how old this house is but at least about 100 years old and it was built by the last blacksmith of this village. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co Ltd, Bonnybridge. alt Calder Firebrick Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. alt Chapelhall Works, Lanarkshire….
