Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

(Note – SBH – Of all the Scottish bricks I ‘see’ being found on foreign shores, the Gartcraig brickmark is by far the most prevalent and widespread).

(Note – SBH – Brick manufacturing started at Millerston (Gartcraig) c. 1862 under the company name Andrew Yeats and Co. Dr Willis was a partner. In 1872 the Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Company Limited was formed and Andrew Yeats was one of the directors. In c. 1877 – 1879, the Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Company was wound up and the Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited was formed. The Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited itself appears to have been wound up c. 1921 and the Gartcraig brand name and possibly company name was apparently taken over by P & M Hurll who operated various brickworks around the Glasgow area including fireclay works at Garnqueen and Gartliston, Glenboig.

Anomalies with the above information.

1n 1898, a new joint-stock company, Gartcraig Fireclay Company was formed to take over the business of the Gartcraig Fireclay Company. This is confusing as both companies have the same name.

If Hurll took over the Gartcraig brand in 1921 as suggested by K. W. Sanderson, did Hurll continue to actually use the Gartcraig stamp on bricks and if they did where were they manufactured. (The Gartcraig Fireclay Works are detailed on the 1910 OS map but not the 1935 edition).

There is a reference to the Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited being a shareholder of James Dougall, fireclay manufacturers, Bonnyside, Bonnybridge in 1927. (Many ‘Gartcraig’ stamped bricks have been found on the site of the Bonnyside Fireclay Works).

There are references to the Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited up to at least 1977, so who was using the company name at that time. Did Hurll, not only take over the brand name as suggested in 1921 but also the company name?

All of the above confusion makes it difficult to determine where ‘Gartcraig’ branded bricks were made and when. There are certainly early looking handmade ‘Gartcraig’ bricks that would be manufactured at the Gartcraig Fireclay Works, Millerston, Glasgow and in 1919 the sale of the Gartcraig Fireclay Company works shows they had brickmaking machines so they also manufactured machine made bricks at Millerston too. However, if Hurll or Dougall also manufactured ‘Gartcraig’ stamped bricks which stamps can be attributed to them and in the case of Hurll, where did they manufacture them.

‘Gartcraig’ bricks have been found on Dougall’s works at Bonnyside but as yet (16/02/2022) not on either of Hurll’s two fireclay works at Glenboig. ‘Gartcraig’ bricks have also been found on the old sites of the Castlecary Fireclay Works and the Glenboig Union Fireclay Works.

If anyone can clarify this situation then please get in touch. Scottish Brick History – brickmarks@gmail.com).

Canmore

Gartcraig, By Millerston, Glasgow.

Below – 1858 – Gartcraig Farm is situated to the bottom left. From the information detailed on this page, it appears that Andrew Yeats was manufacturing bricks from 1862 which is just after the map below was surveyed. It is likely that Andrew Yeats’s early works were on the same site as the works detailed on the map dated 1897. There is a round-shaped building on the 1858 map but this is likely to be a gingang or a mill gang, basically a farm structure.

1862 – (See post dated 05/10/1880 below). A company was started under the name Andrew Yeats and Company. His partner was Dr Willis. (Note – SBH – It is unclear if they were making firebricks at this time).

Below – 11/09/1872 – The Scotsman – Formation of the Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Company Limited.

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18/09/1872 – The Scotsman – The Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Company Limited.

The Directors do not wish to publish estimates of anticipated profits, but it will be seen from Mr Crookston’s report that a large output of coal and fireclay, which will realise handsome profits, can be obtained by additional outlay.  Mr Crookston states that there is coal to sustain an output of 500 tons per day.  At anything like the present prices of coal such an output would yield very large profits, but a profit of only 1s 3d. per ton, which can be easily got even in the worst times, would yield 28 per cent., and an output of only 300 tons per day, which Mr Crookston says can be got from the second pit alone, would pay over 17 per cent, on the capital proposed to be called up, independent of any profit from the fireclay works or from Cardowan Colliery, and these have always paid well, and are now yielding good profits.  The Directors propose to establish an ample reserve fund for the contingencies and in order to have the whole capital of the company intact on the expiration of the leases.  The capital has been fixed nominally at £50,000, but it is believed that £6 per share will be sufficient to erect the necessary buildings, sink pits, provide machinery, &c; and if so, no further calls will be made.  In case no allotment is made the deposits will be returned in full.  Copies of the articles of the association and other information may be obtained at the office of the solicitors and at the temporary offices of the company.  Detailed prospectuses containing a report by Mr Crookston, engineer, and an analysis of the fireclay by Dr Wallace, and forms of application for shares may be had at the bankers, the brokers, and at the temporary offices of the company.

1873 – Scottish Mining Website. List of mines. Gartcraig Fire Clay Mine, Shettleston. Andrew Yeats and Company.

04/02/1873 – North British Daily Mail – The first general meeting of the shareholders of the Gartcraig Coal and Fire Clay Company Limited was held yesterday in the offices of the company, 51 West Regent Street. Mr Hunter, Chairman of the Board of Directors, presided. The Chairman stated that of the 5000 shares composing the capital of the company. 4259 had been placed, leaving 741 unallotted. These would be offered to the existing shareholders. It was stated that the company had 500,000 fire bricks and about 8000 tons of fire clay stock on hand and that there is a large and increasing demand for the bricks. A second pit has been sunk 33 fathoms at Gartcraig and the new engine for this pit was put to work on Friday last, and it is expected that in about three months the Kiltongue seam will be reached. When the roads are formed and this pit is in proper working order, the engineer says that 300 tons of coal per day can be put out. The fire brick works are being extended so as to command a large increase in the make of fire bricks, to which will be added the manufacture of sewage pipes and other articles. It was stated that a valuable extension of the lease had been obtained at Gartseuch, and a new pit sunk which had passed through a 4 feet seam of coal. A new engine is in course of erection to work this pit. The directors spoke very favourably of the property, and they say they have no doubt but it will yield very satisfactory dividends.

07/04/1873 – Glasgow Herald – Gartcraig Coal and Fire-Clay Company (Limited). At a meeting held today in the office of the company, it was resolved to pay the shareholders an interim dividend of 7½ per cent for the six months during which the company has been in existence.

Below – 21/04/1875 – North British Agriculturist. Sheriff Murray on Saturday issued an interlocutor which may interest those engaged on yearly salaries. His lordship, whose judgment fully explains the case, has found that the pursuer, Joseph McFadyen, was engaged in June 1871 by Messrs Andrew Yeats & Co as superintendent of their fire clay brickworks, at a yearly salary of £120 with a house free and a penny as bonus on a thousand bricks sold; that he remained there till October 1872, when the works were transferred to the Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Co. (Limited), whose manager Mr Yeats became, and all the employes were taken over without a word being said of any alteration of the footing on which they stood; that in October 1873 the directors, for bookkeeping reasons, made a nominal increase of the pursuer’s salary, charging him at the same time an equivalent deduction for his house rent and for coals, which he had been allowed to get free, so that his actual salary remained precisely the same as before, and was paid monthly, as it had been throughout the whole time; that about the same time the directors intimated to him that his house was held monthly; that some complaints as to bricks were latterly made, but it is not sufficiently clear that they were caused by the fault of the pursuer, or at least that if they were they were such as justified dismissal without the fault being pointed out to the pursuer that he might amend his ways; and that on 28th January 1874 the pursuer was dismissed, but got on the 10th March another engagement at 30s a week. His lordship, in conclusion, has found that the pursuer was working under a yearly engagement; that the defenders, the Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Company, have failed to prove that his dismissal was justifiable; that he is entitled to about £10 wages, and to £20 damages for loss of employment for a certain time, and that having to accept afterwards an inferior engagement, he is entitled to £3 commission on bricks sold. He, therefore, decerned for £33. The amount claimed was £67 10s as wages, commission, and damages.

Below – 14/07/1875 – Glasgow Herald – Action for wrongful dismissal. Some time ago we reported the decision of Sheriff Substitute Murray in an action raised by Joseph McFadyen residing at Gartcraig near Shettleston against the Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Company Limited for £67 10s as wages, commissions and damages for wrongful dismissal. The Sheriff Substitute in his interlocuter found, on the whole case, that the pursuer was working under a yearly engagement lasting till June and that the defenders had failed to prove that his dismissal was justifiable. He, therefore, found the pursuer entitled to £10 wages and £20 as damages for loss of employment for a certain time and having to subsequently accept employment at lower wages and £3 as commission on bricks and his lordship discerned against the defenders for £33.  Appeals were taken to the Sheriff Principal who has now given his decision. The Sheriff adheres to the findings, one to six inclusive in the interlocutor appealed against but with the modification upon finding six that the pursuer had not to leave his house till the beginning of March following his dismissal. Finds, that the pursuer wrongously employed one of the defender’s workmen to make a tombstone with their fire clay during part of the time he should have worked for them and that the defenders are entitled to a deduction of £2 on account thereof; adheres to the findings of the first and third, on the whole case and in law; adheres to the second of the said findings so far as regards the £10 for wages due to the pursuer for January; recalls the said finding quoad ultra and in lieu thereof assesses the damages due to the pursuer for dismissal from the defender’s service at £40; decerns accordingly against the defenders for £51, with interest as libelled; adheres to the interlocutor appealed against as regards expenses and decerns. His Lordship in a note explains that the pursuers original engagement with Yates and Co was at a yearly salary with free house and coal and a small commission. He remained in the works upon the defenders (The Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Company) taking them over from that firm in October 1872 and as nothing was said as to any change in the terms of his engagement it was to be inferred that it was on the same terms as before. He continued with the new concern without any change till October 1873 when his free house and coals were commuted into an addition to his salary; on the other hand, he was to pay for rent for the house and to pay for his coals. The Sheriff holds that the pursuer’s engagement was by the year and that his dismissal was not justified because the badness in quality of bricks was not proved to have arisen from his fault and that he was therefore entitled to damages. In assessing these the Sheriff Substitute seemed to have overlooked the pursuers allowances for house rent and coal and his claim to a sum on account of having been dismissed from the position of manager and been obliged to take an inferior situation at a lower salary.

1877 – The Scottish Refractory Industry 1830 – 1980 by Kenneth W Sanderson – The Gartcraig Coal & Fireclay Company was voluntarily wound up in 1877 but reformed as Gartcraig Fireclay Co. Ltd., and continued to make firebricks up to 1921 when the works were closed. The brand Gartcraig was taken over by P & M Hurll Ltd. (Note – SBH – So for how long did the manufacture of Gartcraig bricks cease between the Gartcraig Coal and Fire Clay Company being dissolved and the Gartcraig Fire clay Company being created?)

01/03/1877 – Scottish Mining Website – 1877 Fatal Accidents – Gartcraig, Shettleston. Deceased – Jas. Williamson, collier, aged 30 years. Was dashed down the shaft at an unusual velocity into water by the machinery getting out of gear.

12/03/1877 – Edinburgh Gazette – Gartcraig Coal and Fire Clay Company Limited. Notice is hereby given that the Gartcraig Coal and Fire Clay Company (Limited) have passed a
special resolution to wind up or liquidate the company voluntarily, in terms of ‘The Companies’ Acts, 1862 and 1867,’ and that the subscribers, James Fraser, pipe manufacturer, Glasgow, John Reid, Loanhead House, Baillieston, George Haddow, 58 Buccleuch Street, Glasgow, Archibald D. Hunter, 30 Monteith Row, Glasgow, and Thomas Murdoch, Ranfurly Lodge, Bridge of Weir, have been appointed Joint-Liquidators to wind up the Company. All parties indebted to or having claims against the Company are requested to pay their debts to and lodge their claims with, the liquidators, at the works of the Company at Gartcraig by Shettleston or at the Office of the solicitor of the company, Mr Alexander Robertson, 108 West Regent Street, Glasgow, within three weeks from this date. John Reid, Geo. Haddow, Archibald D. Hunter, James Fraser, Thomas Murdoch. Joint-Liquidators. 108 West Regent Street, Glasgow, 12th March 1877.

11/04/1877 – Glasgow Herald – Gartcraig Coal and Fire Clay Company Limited in liquidation. For sale by a private bargain. The extensive fire clay works and collieries of the above company with the whole machinery, plant and stock in hand, the mineral leases and workmen’s houses. The works which are situated 2 1/2 miles from Glasgow on the Monklands Canal are in operation and are capable of turning out all classes of fire clay goods. For catalogues of the plant and stock and all other particulars apply to the manager of the works at Gartcraig or to Alexander Robertson, writer, 108 West Regent Street, Glasgow who will receive offers up till 20th April curt.

Below – 07/05/1877 – The Scotsman – To be sold by public roup within the Faculty Hall, St Georges Place, Glasgow on Wednesday the 9th day of May 1877 at half-past one o’clock afternoon unless previously disposed of, the extensive fire clay works and collieries of the Gartcraig Coal and Fire Clay Company Limited in liquidation with the whole machinery, plant and stock in hand, mineral leases and workmen’s houses. The works and collieries upon which upwards of £22,000 have been expended are situated 2 1/2 miles from Glasgow on the Monkland Canal. The pits yield good house and furnace coal and the works which are of the most modern construction and in full operation are capable of turning out bricks and all classes of fire clay goods of superior quality. To ensure a sale this valuable property will be exposed at the low upset price of £10,000. For catalogues of the plant and stock and all other particulars apply to the manager of the works at Gartcraig or to Alexander Robertson, writer, 108 West Regent Street, Glasgow.

20/06/1877  – Glasgow Herald – At the Sheriff Criminal Court, Glasgow, yesterday before Sheriff Lees and a jury, Francis Cassidy, an engineer, was tried on a charge of culpable homicide. Cassidy was in charge of the winding and other machinery of one of the pits of Gartcraig Coal and Fire Clay Company on Wednesday, 14th March, and it was alleged that, through carelessness on his part, the winding machinery got out of gearing while two men named Williamson and Letham were descending the pit; and the kettle rushing to the bottom with great violence, the former was killed and the latter seriously injured. After a lengthy trial, Cassidy was found guilty of culpable violation of duty and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. (16/03/1877 – Edinburgh News also refers).

21/01/1878 – Glasgow Herald – It seems the Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Company Limited was still up for sale at this time but at a reduced upset of £7500.

30/08/1878 – Glasgow Herald – Collieries and Fire Clay Works near Glasgow for sale by public roup. Reduced upset price £6000. To be sold by public roup in the Faculty Hall, Saint George’s Place, Glasgow on Wednesday the 11th day of September 1878 at two o’clock afternoon unless previously disposed of. The extensive fire clay works and collieries of  Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Co Limited in liquidation with the whole machinery, plant and stock in hand, mineral leases and workmen’s houses all as previously advertised. For catalogues of the plant and stock and all other particulars apply to the manager of the works at Gartcraig or to Alexander Robertson, writer, 108 West Regent Street, Glasgow.

30/09/1878 – Glasgow Herald – Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Company Limited is still for sale. Price further reduced to £5500.

15/01/1879 – North British Daily Mail – Starvation at Gartcraig. Sir, I ask you to insert these few lines to show that there is one place which is at present in sore despair and starvation. It is a small village which is called Gartcraigs, a few miles from Glasgow and is sorely in need of a relief fund for the unemployed. The brickworks and pits are at present stopped by the masters themselves, through some dispute amongst which have nothing to do with the workmen. I hope that someone or another will take a part to give us a helping hand and to assist us in our daily labour with a relief fund. I would be glad to see a little done for these starving wives and children of Gartcraigs. Bread or clothes will be thankfully taken at any time from those who wish to give a little. The householders should be visited by some committee who has done a little. I am &c. W. J. B.

03/03/1879 – Glasgow Herald – Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Company Limited still for sale. Price further reduced to £5000.

13/03/1879 – Glasgow Herald – Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Company Limited sold for £5000.

13/08/1879 – Glasgow Herald – In the matters of the Companies Acts 1862 and 1867 and of the Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Company Limited, notice is hereby given that a general meeting of the said company will be held on Friday 5th day of September 1879 at one o’clock afternoon within the registered office of the company 108 West Regent Street, Glasgow with the purpose of laying before said meeting an account made up by the liquidators of the company showing the manner of the winding-up of the company has been conducted and the property of the company disposed of, together with a report by the liquidators explanatory of said account. Signed John Ried, Thos Murdoch and James Fraser, joint liquidators, 108 West Regent Street, Glasgow 31st July 1879.

With reference to the above, creditors of the company who have not yet lodged claims must now do so on or before the 16th inst, as the liquidation is being closed. Alexander Robertson, agent for the liquidators. 108 West Regent Street, Glasgow 5th August 1879.

05/12/1879 – Belfast Telegraph – Fire clay goods – D. Crawford & Co beg to intimate that they have been appointed sole agents in Belfast for the Gartcraig Fire Clay Co, Glasgow, manufacturers of all kinds of fire bricks, facing bricks, flooring tiles, glazed sewerage pipes, chimney cans, vent linings, cattle troughs etc. Price list on application – 14 Carrick Hill.

04/02/1880 – Glasgow Evening Citizen – February 2. Andrew Yeats, sometime managing director of the concern called The Gartcraig Coal and Fire Clay Company Limited and residing at 62 Cromwell Street, Glasgow. Creditors to meet in the Faculty Hall, Glasgow, 13th February, at 12 o’clock …

27/03/1880 – Glasgow Evening Citizen – Fire bricks broken and damaged, the price for immediate removal is per cart, picked – 5s. Gartcraig Works near Hogganfield.

03/03/1880 – Glasgow Evening Citizen – Examination of Andrew Yeats, managing director of the concern called the Gartcraig Coal & Fire Clay Company (Limited), and residing at 62 Cromwell Street, Glasgow. Sederunt – Mr John Moss, accountant, trustee and Mr Stuart Foulis, writer, law agent in the sequestration. On the motion of the trustee, in respect that the bankrupt has made an offer of composition, the examination was adjourned until 3rd May, at twelve o’clock.

Below – 22/09/1880 – Daily Alta California Volume 32, No 11118.

05/10/1880 – Glasgow Herald – The adjourned examination of Andrew Yeats, sometime manager of the Gartcraig Coal and Fire Clay Company Limited took place yesterday before Sheriff Guthrie. The bankrupt said he began business in 1862 under the designation of Andrew Yeats & Company and he put in £400 in capital. His partner was Dr Willis. His share of the profits was to be one half. In addition, he was to have a salary of £150. In addition to the £400 he put in, he transferred to the firm five-twelfths of heritable property, consisting of miners houses. In 1872 the business was sold to a limited company and the firm of Andrew Yeats & Company was to receive £3000 in cash and the balance of the purchase money was given in shares. The state of affairs showed liabilities amounting to £1217 11s 1d and assets £64 4s, the deficiency being £1153 7s 1d. The examination was meanwhile closed. (20/09/1880 – Glasgow Evening Citizen refers to Andrew Yeats as being lately the Managing Director of the Gartcraig Coal and Fire Clay Company Ltd).

14/05/1881 – Glasgow Evening Post – Horizontal engine best type, winding drum and spur are complete. Cylinder 14″, diameter 2 1/2 foot stroke. Egg end boiler to suit. Gartcraig Fire Clay Coy, 275 Parliamentary Road.

09/07/1881 – Glasgow Evening Post – Horizontal engine, cylinder 18″ diam, 4-foot stroke. Egg end boiler 30ft x 5 ft. Winding drum and pithead pulleys if required. Gartcraig Fire Clay Coy, 275 Parliamentary Road.

29/10/1881 – Dundee Advertiser – Bankruptcy meeting. Andrew Yeats, sometime managing director of the Gartcraig Coal and Fire Clay Company Limited and residing at 62 Cromwell Street, Glasgow – 45 Hope Street, Glasgow, 19th November at 12.

08/03/1883 – The Brisbane Courier – Gibbs, Bright & Co, Sole Agents in Queensland for Gartcraig firebricks.

21/07/1883 – The Brisbane Courier – Commercial markets Cardowan bricks fell at £8.10s and Gartcraig £8.5s and Heathery Knowe  £7.15s.

22/08/1883 – Glasgow Herald – Fireclay pipe makers wanted. Apply at Gartcraig Fire Clay Works near Hogganfield.

Below – 25/09/1883 – Glasgow Property Circular – Gartcraig Fireclay Works and Colliery for sale.

1884 – Gartcraig Fireclay Company. 275 Parliamentary Road, Glasgow.

15/07/1884 – Clyde Bill of Entry and Shipping List – Girvan, Ayr, James R. Mowat, Adelaide 694 (16 mean) – Aitken, Lilburn & Co … 28 tons 10cwt (10,000) Gartcraig fire clay bricks £21 5s –

Below – 1885 – Glasgow Herald – Porcelain Bath and Fancy Clay Works, recently erected but not used and belonging to the cessio Estates of Oliver and Fullerton and Oliver and Co for sale … 2 circular kilns are lined with Gartcraig fireclay …

1886 – Gartcraig Fire Clay Co. 275 Parliamentary Rd; Works, Gartcraig, by Shettleston. Depot, Monkland Canal Wharf, Castle St.

24/06/1886 – Paisley Daily Express – Wanted a few good fire clay pipe makers. Apply Gartcraig Fire Clay Co by Shettleston.

Below – 08/07/1886 – Clyde Bill of Entry and Shipping List – July 1st. Marco Polo, Germany. J Miller. Montevideo. 599. Lietke & Co … 137 tons 10 cwt Gartcraig fireclay bricks £81; 206 tons (7200) Glenboig fireclay pipes. £222 …

27/12/1886 – Aberdeen Press and Journal – On Friday night the fire brigade was summoned to the east end of the city by the electric alarm. The fire was at the premises of the Gartcraig Fireclay Company, on the banks of the Monkland Canal, Roughazie Road, near Shettleston, a distance over two miles. The new steamer, being an exceedingly light machine, is specially adapted for running to the country and although the way was somewhat bad, the journey was accomplished in a brief space of time. When the firemen reached the place they found that the flames which had originated in a range of defective flues had made considerable headway. Two of the stoves, one of them measuring 100 feet by 40 feet, and the other 90 feet by 31 feet, with their contents, had been quite destroyed. The efforts of the brigade were directed to saving the millhouse, the roof of which was ablaze, and an other five stoves which are each 90 feet by 31 feet, and which are all open and communicate with one another. In this success attended the efforts of the men, who obtained a plentiful supply of water from the canal. The loss, which is estimated £1000, is covered by insurance.

27/12/1886 – Glasgow Evening Post – Today, twenty-one men, principally labourers, were, at today’s J.P. Court, charged before Mr Alexander Osborne, with lying in drying kilns occupied by the Gartcraig Fireclay Company, near Shettleston, on Sunday night about eleven o’clock. Three of the men were taken up on the same charge at a previous court and admonished. The accused were all dismissed with admonition today, Mr Osborne stating that if they appeared again he would have to send them to prison.

01/01/1887 – Dunfermline Saturday Press – Glasgow tramps Christmas quarters. Twenty-one men described as tramps were taken before ex- Bailie Osborne at the Justice of Peace Court on Monday forenoon accused of vagrancy. On the previous night, the police made a raid on the drying kilns of the Gartcraig Fire-Clay Company at Roughazie Road, near Shettleston, where the whole of the men were found asleep. The accused, who were mostly labourers out of employment, were dismissed with an admonition.

Below – 01/01/1887 – Lanarkshire Upper Ward Examiner – Fire at Gartcraig Fireclay Works, Shettleston. On Friday evening, between five and six o’clock, the Central Fire Brigade was called out by the ringing of the alarm at the corner of Duke Street and Cumbernauld Road to a fire which had broken out in the works of the Gartcraig Fire Clay Company. situated on the banks of the Monkland Canal near Shettleston. When the brigade arrived at the scene of the conflagration it was found that two drying stoves, one 100ft by 40 ft and the other 90 ft by 31 ft had, with their contents, been totally destroyed. The efforts of the brigade were directed to the saving the Millhouse and another five drying stoves, each 90 ft by 31 ft and by their strenuous endeavours they were successful in doing so, although by the time of their arrival the flames had extended to the roof of the Millhouse. The fire originated in one of the drying stoves and is supposed to have been caused by a defective flue. The damage, which is estimated at about £1000, is covered by insurance.

10/10/1887 – Scottish Mining Website – Fatal accidents. at Gartcraig, Shettleston. Mine was owned by the Gartcraig Fireclay Company. Deceased James Taylor, miner aged 30 years. Cause – fall of roof at face.

Below – 12/11/1887 – Lloyd’s List – Gartcraig Fire Clay Co, 275 Parliamentary Road, Glasgow, makers of every description of fire clay goods including fire bricks and blocks, white flooring tiles, glazed sewage pipes, vents &c. Shipping facilities to all ports. Prices and illustrated catalogue on application.

31/05/1889 – Scottish Mining Website – Fatal accidents. at Gartcraig, Shettleston. Mine was owned by the Gartcraig Fireclay Company. Deceased William Gaughan, miner aged 40 years. Cause – fall of coal.

03/03/1890 – Glasgow Herald – Fireclay pipe makers wanted. Good wages and constant employment. Apply Gartcraig Brickworks, Cumbernauld Road.

1890 – 91 – David McDougall, Clerk at Gartcraig Fire Clay Co, 18 Charles Street, St Rollox. Ho 109 Armadale Street, Glasgow.

1892 – 1893 – Gartcraig Fire-Clay Co., manufacturers of fire bricks, sewerage pipes, and all kinds of fire-clay goods, 18 Charles St., St. Rollox; depot, Monkland Canal basin; works, Gartcraig, by Shettleston; telegraphic address, “Gartcraig;” telephone  No 1299.1893 – List of  Scottish Fireclay Mines. Name of mine – Gartcraig. Name of owner or company and address – Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Co, 18 Charles Street, St Rollox, Glasgow. Type – Coal and fire clay. Name of manager or agent – Hugh P Swann.

1894 – 1895 – Gartcraig Fire-Clay Co., manufacturers of fire bricks, sewerage pipes, and all kinds of fire-clay goods, 18 Charles St., St. Rollox; depot, Monkland Canal basin; works, Gartcraig, by Shettleston; telegraphic address, “Gartcraig;” telephone  No 1299.

1896 – Gartcraig Shettleston, Gartcraig Coal and Fireclay Co., Shettleston, Hugh P. Swann manager, 55 underground, 18 surface workers – Coal, Manufacturing coal, Fireclay.

Below – 1897 – Gartcraig Fireclay Works.

1897 – 1898 – Gartcraig Fire-Clay Co. makers of white and coloured enamelled bricks, white facing bricks, sewerage pipes, and all kinds of fire-clay goods, 18 Charles st St. Rollox; depot, Monkland Canal basin; works, Gartcraig, by Shettleston; telegraphic address, “Gartcraig;” telephone No. 1299.

14/05/1898 – Glasgow Herald – Cast iron plates for sale. 164, 1/2″ thick – different sizes – Gartcraig Brickworks by Shettleston.

26/11/1898 – Dundee Courier – New joint stock companies – Gartcraig Fire Clay Company – to acquire the business of fire brick and tile makers and coal owners at present carried on by the Gartcraig Fire Clay Company at Shettleston near Glasgow. Capital £15,000 in 2500 shares of £6 each.

1901 – Directory of clay workers – Gartcraig Fire Clay Company Limited, 18 Charles Street, St. Rollox, Glasgow. Enamelled, vitrified, facing, pressed and fire bricks, sewerage pipes, fire clay goods. T. add Gartcraig Glasgow. Tel 1299.

1901 – 1902 – Gartcraig Fire-Clay Co. Ltd. makers of white and coloured enamelled bricks, double-dipped vitrified bricks, facing bricks, fire bricks, sewerage pipes, chimney cans, and all kinds of fire-clay goods, 18 Charles St., St. Rollox; depot, Monkland Canal basin, Castle Street; works, Gartcraig, by Millerston; telegraphic address, ” Gartcraig; ” telephone No. 1299.

20/03/1901 – Kirkintilloch Herald – Wanted. Miners to keep away from Glenboig, Gartliston, Gartcosh and  Heathfield Fireclay Pits during the present dispute.

05/04/1901 – Edinburgh Gazette – Sequestration of Robert Porter, builder, Bellshill, Glasgow … P. Wylie Rodger, secretary of the Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited, Saint Rollox, Glasgow is appointed one of the commissioners.

10/05/1901 – West Lothian Courier – A gathering of the employees of the Gartcraig Fire Clay Company Ltd, Millerston was held in Mr Baxters ‘The Auld Hoose’ 455 Gallowgate, Glasgow on Saturday evening the 4th of May to present Mr Alex Scott, foreman of the works, with a handsome timepiece on his leaving to fulfil a more lucrative appointment. Mr McGlen made the presentation which Mr Scott suitably replied.

12/08/1901 – The Scotsman – The Glasgow International exhibition … Gartcraig Fire Clay Company exhibit similar to the Glenboig Union Fireclay Company (fire bricks, furnace blocks and gas retorts) with chimney cans and vases.

26/07/1902 – The Western Australian. The federal tariff (tax), official decisions – Firebricks marked Gartcraig – 15%.

1904 – 1905 – Gartcraig Fire-Clay Co. Ltd. makers of white and coloured enamelled bricks, double-dipped vitrified bricks, facing bricks, fire bricks, sewerage pipes, chimney cans, ornamental vases, and all kinds of fire-clay goods, 18 Charles St, St Rollox; Depot, Monkland Canal basin, Castle Street; works, Gartcraig, by Millerston; telegraphic address, “Gartcraig ” telephone Nat. and Corp. Nos. 1299.

1905 – 1906 – Gartcraig Fire-Clay Co. Ltd. makers of white and coloured enamelled bricks, double-dipped vitrified bricks, facing bricks, fire bricks, sewerage pipes, chimney cans, ornamental vases, and all kinds of fire-clay goods, 18 Charles St, St Rollox; Depot, Monkland Canal basin, Castle Street; works, Gartcraig, by Millerston; telegraphic address, “Gartcraig ” telephone Nat. and Corp. Nos. 1299.

19/05/1905 – Kirkintilloch Herald – Football match. Hogganfield Bleaching and Finishing Company beat the Gartcraig Fireclay Workers 7-0.

05/07/1905 – Kirkintilloch Herald – New buildings … by the Gartcraig Fireclay Company Ltd, for addition to existing millshed at Gartcraig Fireclay Works, Millerston.

1906 – Memoirs of the geological survey. Summary of progress of the geological survey of Great Britain … A point of considerable interest has arisen about the identification of the coals worked, under the names of the Virtuewell and the Kiltongue, at Gartcraig Colliery, Millerston. Mr Swan, the Manager of Gartcraig Fireclay Works, has long suspected that the uppermost of these coals is the Kiltongue and that the other, known as the Kiltongue, is really some lower coal. The same opinion had previously been expressed by Messrs. McCreaths and Stevenson, to whom we are indebted for much of the evidence bearing on the question. In the first place, the distance of 29 fathoms between the coals just mentioned agrees with the distance between the Kiltongue and Balmoral seams at Lochwood Colliery, Commonhead, 3 miles east of Gartcraig, and is far too large for the average distance between the Virtuewell and Kiltongue in the district.
A massive sandstone from three to four fathoms thick above the so-called Virtuewell coal at Gartcraig corresponds very well with that commonly found above the Kiltongue seam, and the sandstone above the true Virtuewell never seems to attain this thickness in the neighbourhood.
Mr James McCreath remembers having seen debris of mussel band in the tip of Gartcraig shaft before it had been sunk as far as the so-called Virtuewell coal, and he thinks that it probably came from the well-known mussel band about nine fathoms above the Kiltongue seam. The lower coal at Gartcraig closely resembles the coal to which a shaft has been recently sunk at Lochwood Colliery, Commonhead. The chief point of resemblance is the occurrence of a brown-stone rib in the body of the coal. The Lochwood coal is 28¼ fathoms below the Kiltongue. It is called the Balmoral by the Lochwood Coal Company.
Mr Dunn, of Wester Daldowie, thinks, however, that this coal, which is characterized by a brown-stone rib, is the Armadale or Bathgate Main coal. He states that this coal is everywhere characterized by the same stone rib or ribs, and he regards it as equivalent to the Brightons Main at Falkirk, and the Kilsnachtan Main at Alloa.

1907 – Gartcraig Fire Clay Co. Ltd, 18 Charles St., St. Rollox; Depot, Monkland Canal basin, Garngad Hill.

1907 – 1908 – Gartcraig Fireclay Co., Ltd., 18 Charles street, St. Rollox. Tel./Add. ” Gartcraig, Glasgow”.

1908 – 1909 – Gartcraig Fireclay Co., Ltd., 18 Charles street, St. Rollox. Tel./Add. ” Gartcraig, Glasgow”.

31/10/1908 – Kalgoorlie Miner – Lancefield Gold Mining Co … In figuring on the remodelling of the roasters we considered we were making sufficient provision for safety in improving on the ordinary bricks in the crowns by putting in Statham firebricks. This Mr Bigelow still further improves on by recommending that the crowns should be of the best Gartcraig firebricks. We entirely approve of this course but are prohibited from adopting it unless with a further expenditure of money.

Below – 1910 – Gartcraig Fire Clay Works. (The 1935 map does not detail the brickworks).

1910 – The housing conditions of miners” by Dr John T. Wilson. Gartcraig Fire Clay Co., Ltd, Millerston.

Gartcraig Fire Clay Mine – Situated near Shettleston
Persons employed – underground – 80, above ground – 8, Total – 88

The workmen reside mostly in rented houses at Shettleston or at Hogganfield, and in 12 houses situated on Gartcraig Estate. Three of these have two rooms and a kitchen, seven have one room and kitchen, and two are single apartments.

The 12 houses are described as follows:-
Erected about 40 years ago – One storey, built of brick – no damp-proof course – Wood or tile floors, wood floors ventilated – internal surface of walls and ceilings in good condition

• No overcrowding – apartments large
• No gardens, but have common wash house and coal cellars
• Gravitation water from a standpipe
• Privy middens about 20 yards in rear of houses
• Drainage by surface channels
• Scavenged at owners’ expense
• Repairs have been carried out

1918 – Gartcraig Fire Clay Co. Ltd., Gartcraig Works, Millerston, Glasgow. Mine is named Gartcraig and located at Shettleston. Manager – Thomas Scobie  Under – Manager Robert Reid. 40 persons worked below ground and 8 above.

11/07/1919 – Kirkintilloch Gazette – At the district committee meeting it was reported that the Gartcraig Mine had been abandoned and steps were being taken to suitably protect the shafts.

Below – 06/08/1919 – The Scotsman – Sale at Gartcraig Colliery, Millerston on the instruction of the Gartcraig Fire Clay Co Ltd owing to the termination of the lease.

Below – 15/11/1919 – Gartcraig Fireclay Works for sale.

Below – 17/11/1919 – The Scotsman –

Below – 14/08/1920 – The Scotsman – Sale of equipment at Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, Millerston. Termination of the lease.

1921 – The Scottish Refractory Industry 1830 – 1980 by Kenneth W Sanderson – The Gartcraig Coal & Fireclay Company was voluntarily wound up in 1877 but reformed as Gartcraig Fireclay Co. Ltd., and continued to make firebricks up to 1921 when the works were closed. The brand Gartcraig was taken over by P & M Hurll Ltd. (Note – SBH – It sounds like the actually ‘Gartcraig’ brick stamp was continued by P & M Hurll but where did they make the Gartcraig branded bricks?).

Below – 1922 – A Textbook of fire assaying by Edward E. Bugbee, Assistant Professor of Mining Engineering and Metallurgy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA … Chapter on ‘Furnaces and Furnaceroom Supplies”.

19/05/1922 – Edinburgh Gazette – Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited. A petition has been presented to the Lords of Council and Session (First Division, Mr Paton, Clerk) by the Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited, incorporated under the Companies Acts, 1862 to 1898, and having its registered office at 18 Charles Street, St. Rollox, Glasgow, praying their
Lordships to confirm the alteration of the provisions of the company’s memorandum of association with respect to its objects, set forth in a special resolution of the company passed on 11th March and confirmed on 1st April 1922, upon which Petition the Lords of the First Division have been pleased to pronounce the following Interlocutor:-Edinburgh, 11th May 1922. The Lords appoint the Petition to be intimated on the Walls and in the Minute-Book in common form, to be advertised once in the Edinburgh Gazette and once in each of the Scotsman and Glasgow Herald newspapers and allows all concerned to lodge answers thereto, if so advised, within eight days after such intimation and advertisement. J. A. Clyde, I.P.D.
Of all which intimation is hereby given. Dove, Lockhart, & Smart, S.S.C., petitioners’ agents, 29 York Place, Edinburgh,17th May 1922.

Below – 07/07/1922 – United States Patent Office

Below – 01/05/1923 – United States Patent Office – Gartcraig Trademark registered no 210067, in England 11/12/1897.

Registered May 1, 1923.                                       Trade-Mark 167,576

United States Patent Office.

Gartcraig Fire Clay Company Limited of Glasgow, Scotland.

Act of February 20th 1905.

Application filed July 7, 1922.  Serial No. 166,550

Gartcraig statement. To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, Gartcraig Fire Clay Company Limited, a limited liability company organised under the laws of Great Britain and Ireland, and located and doing business at 18 Charles Street, St Rollox, Glasgow, Scotland, have adopted and used the trade-mark shown in the accompanying drawing, for fire clay goods – namely brick, tile and drain pipes in Class No. 12, construction materials.  The trademark has been continually used in the business of the applicant since the 13th of September, 1874.  The trademark is “affixed” to the goods by impressing the mark upon the goods themselves.  The trademark consists of the word “Gartcraig”.  Said trademark has been registered in England, No. 210,067, December 11, 1897.  Chauncey P. Carter, of 4907 Potomac Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D. C., is the person designated as applicants representative on whom process or notice of proceedings affecting the right to ownership of said trademark brought under the laws of the United States may be served. Gartcraig Fire-Clay Company, Limited, P. Wylie Rodger. Secretary.

1930 – 1931 – Gartcraig Fire Clay Co. Ltd., makers of white and coloured enamelled bricks, double-dipped vitrified bricks, facing bricks, fire bricks, sewage pipes, chimney cans, ornamental vases and all kinds of fire-clay goods, 18 Charles St, St. Rollox, N; depot, Monkland Canal basin, Castle St., C.4; Telegraphic address ‘Gartcraig’. Telephones, 3400, 3401 and 3402 Bell.

Below – 1933 – Gartcraig playing fields on the site of the former Gartcraig Fire Clay Works.

1936 – 1937 – Gartcraig Fire Clay Co. Ltd., makers of fire bricks, sewage pipes, chimney cans, and all kinds of fire-clay goods, 18 Charles St, St. Rollex, N; depot, Monkland Canal basin, Castle St., C.4; telephones, 3400 and 3401 Bell.

1936 – 1937 – P. Wylie Rodger of Gartcraig Fire Clay Company Ltd, Glasgow. House Southcourt, Helensburgh.

05/07/1938 – Edinburgh Gazette – The Companies Act, 1929. Special resolution of Galloway, Gibb & Co Ltd, passed 30th June 1938. At an extraordinary general meeting of the
members of the said company, after due notice specifying the intention to propose the following resolution as a special resolution had been given, held at the office of Messrs. Melville, Dundas & Whitson Ltd., 224 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, in the County of the City of Glasgow, on the 30th day of June 1938, the following special resolution was duly passed:- ” That the company be wound up voluntarily and that Patrick Wylie Rodger, of Gartcraig Fire Clay Company Limited, 18 Charles Street, Glasgow, N, be and he is hereby appointed the liquidator for the purpose of such winding-up.

23/11/1951 – Motherwell Times – The ‘George’ Cinema Belshill. Architects – Messrs Gavin Paterson & Son. Another successful cinema front in Faience by Shaws. – Scottish agents – Gartcraig Fire Clay Co Ltd, 18 Charles Street, Glasgow. Shaws glazed brick Co Ltd, Whitebirk Works, Waterside nr Darwen, Lancs.

10/06/1960 – Edinburgh Gazette – Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited. A petition has been presented by the above-named company which was incorporated under the Companies
Acts 1862 to 1900 and has its Registered Office at 18 Charles Street, Glasgow N.I, to the Court of Session setting form that the capital is in excess of the wants of the company and praying the court to confirm the reduction of capital to £3,750 divided into 2,500 Shares of £1 10/- each on which petition their Lordships of the First Division of the Court of Session have of date 7th June 1960 pronounced an interlocutor ordering intimation and advertisement as therein provided and allowing answers to be lodged within seven
days. Atken Methuen & Aikman, solicitors for petitioners, 37 Queen Street, Edinburgh. 8th June 1960.

18/10/1960 – Edinburgh Gazette – Gartcraig Fire Clay Company Limited. Notice is hereby given that in the petition presented by the above-named Company to the Court of Session for confirmation of reduction of capital an order of the court dated 12th October 1960 confirming the reduction of the share capital of the company as set forth in the petition and a
minute which has been approved by the Court were registered by the Registrar of Companies on 14th October 1960. Atken Methuen & Aikman, solicitors for petitioners, 37 Queen Street, Edinburgh. 17th October 1960.

10/04/1973 – Edinburgh Gazette – Annual return. Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited.

29/03/1974 – Edinburgh Gazette – Particulars of directors or changes thereof – Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited.

05/04/1974 – Annual return. Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited.

04/01/1975 – Annual return. Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited.

13/04/1976 – Edinburgh Gazette – Annual return. Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited.

16/09/1977 – Edinburgh Gazette – Annual return. Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited.

Below – History. Source Kenneth W Sanderson – Gartcraig Coal & Fireclay Co Ltd (later Gartcraig Fireclay Co Ltd) – The Gartcraig Coal & Fireclay Company Ltd was incorporated in 1872 to work the fireclays in Gartcraig, Croftcroighn, Frankfield, Avenue End, Lethamhill, Cardowan and Gartsheugh mineral leases, all to the East end of Glasgow. The capital was fixed at £50, 000 in £10 shares, a very large sum for those days, particularly as virtually all the subscriptions came from the Willis and Yeats families. George Willis, Physician of Clifton House, Baillieston, became the chairman and held 1617 of the 4253 shares taken up. Most of the balance was held by the Yeats family. The shares were paid up to the extent of £6 and the capital was scaled down to £34,000. George Willis and Andrew Yeats were both coalmasters in the Gartcraig and Cardowan Companies and partners in Andrew Yeats & Co Ltd.

The Gartcraig Coal & Fireclay Company was voluntarily wound up in 1877 but reformed as Gartcraig Fireclay Co. Ltd., and continued to make firebricks up to 1921 when the works were closed. The brand Gartcraig was taken over by P & M Hurll Ltd. The Gartcraig works site lay on the North Bank of the Monkland Canal, half a mile South of Hogganfield Loch, and was connected with a tramway to the Gartcraig Colliery which supplied the fireclay. The OS map of 1898 shows 6 large round kilns, 6 smaller round kilns and a battery of chambers, so it was a substantial producer of firebricks. The Gartcraig Fireclay Company appears as a small shareholder in James Dougall of Bonnybridge in 1927 and thereafter fades from history. (Note – SBH – This reference to Gartcraig Fireclay Co Ltd fading from sight c. 1927 is confusing as you will see from the information on this page that I have several references of the company up to 1951. K Sanderson also states that the Gartcraig Fireclay Company Limited was wound up in 1921 so how was the company a shareholder of James Dougall, fire brick manufacturers in 1927 ).

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Gartcraig Fire Clay Co., Ltd, Millerston – Source

Gartcraig Fire Clay Mine – Situated near Shettleston
Persons employed – underground – 80, above ground – 8, Total – 88

The workmen reside mostly in rented houses at Shettleston or at Hogganfield, and in 12 houses situated on Gartcraig Estate. Three of these have two rooms and a kitchen, seven have one room and kitchen, and two are single apartments.

The 12 houses are described as follows:-
Erected about 40 years ago – One storey, built of brick – no damp-proof course – Wood or tile floors, wood floors ventilated – internal surface of walls and ceilings in good condition

• No overcrowding – apartments large
• No gardens, but have common wash house and coal cellars
• Gravitation water from a standpipe
• Privy middens about 20 yards in rear of houses
• Drainage by surface channels
• Scavenged at owners’ expense
• Repairs have been carried out

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… The furnace is of the reverberatory type, built of Gartcraig fire-brick and black New Zealand fire-clay. The whole hearth is cased in J-in. iron plate tank, in case of the collapse of the fire-bricks, when the whole charge may be caught. There are three charging doors on one side, and one skimming door at the end of the furnace, and above the latter is a horizontal flue, connected with the underground refinery flue and stack. It is fitted with a hand-hole for cleaning …  source

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Below – 1905 – Pair of Medici style stoneware (fireclay?) urns. A pair of stoneware urns after the antique medici vase, produced by the Gartcraig Fire Clay Company, marked “Gartcraig”, Scottish (Glasgow), circa 1905. On associated stoneware pedestals, marked “Doulton Lambeth”, English, circa 1900. 50 ins. overall height. Measures: Urn 29 ins. high, 21 ins. overall diameter; base 21 ins. high, 15 ins. square at bottom.

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