Many thanks to Gladys Cuttle and the Joseph Thomson Group SC029176 for much of the following information.
Gatelawbridge Brickworks, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.
William George Thomson 1820-1899 was a Master Stonemason.
William George Thomson leased a quarry at Gatelawbridge from 1868 to 1899 and records show he was a Master, Quarry Mason. Thomson leased the land from Duke of Buccleuch.
Two of his Sons – William Thomson 1851-1923 and Robert Thomson 1855-1913 worked with their father William George Thomson. William Jnr started in 1868 and Robert in 1870. William Thomson would purchase land and build/have built houses, for family or to sell on and it is believed he manufactured bricks for this purpose and for selling on to other local builders. It is believed the brickworks were in operation from 1875 to around the 1890s.
The Thomson Brothers continued the business after their father died in 1899 and were involved with some others quarries in the area; The Thomson’s finished renting in 1903 and various others worked Gatelawbridge until 1912 when the quarry was closed.
1888 – 1889 – Wm Thomson & Sons, Gatelawbridge, Red Freestone Quarries, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire; Agents, Currie & Co., Telephone exchange. No. 544, 27 Wellington Street.
Below – 1885 – 1900 – It is believed that the structure marked at the ‘red x’ relates to the brickworks.
1893 – William Bryden, coal merchant and brick manufacturer, Closeburn, Thornhill. (Note – SBH – I am uncertain if Bryden operated from the Gatelawbridge Brickworks but Closeburn is situated nearby and I am not aware of another brickworks in the immediate area).
Below – 1898 – Gatelawbridge Quarries. There is no direct reference to Gatelawbridge Brickworks and the structure marked on the map above is no longer detailed.
1901 – Directory of Clayworkers – W. Thomson & Sons, Gatelabridge, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.
The following information and photograph has been forwarded by the Archivist of the Joseph Thomson Group Charity. This brick is not in my possession. Thomson & Sons, Gatelawbridge, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. The letters are embossed in this stamp. . . .
Buccleuch Terracotta Works, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire aka Buccleuch Brick and Tile Works. (Note – SBH – This page should be read in conjunction with the pages dedicated to the Sanquhar Brick and Tile Works and the Fauldhead Collieries Brick Works) 1962 – The Upper Nithsdale Coalworks from Pictish Times to 1925. Compiled by J C L…
(Note – SBH – This page should be read in conjunction with the pages dedicated to the Sanquhar Brick and Tile Works and the Buccleuch Terracotta Works) Coal has been mined in the Sanquhar and Kirkconnel area since earliest times. In the late 1700s the Duke of Queensberry began to develop the coalfields on his…
Many thanks to Ian Green and Jill Williams, Edinburgh for their outstanding assistance with regards to information relating to these works. The references below come mainly from census and valuation roll entries. 1844 – There is a Jacob Kemmie (Kemme) listed as living at Granton Pier, which at that time was part of Cramond, but…
Many thanks to Ian Green and Jill Williams, Edinburgh for their outstanding assistance with regards information relating to these works. Smeaton Firebrick Works, Newfarm, Dalkeith, Midlothian. In Midlothian, clay of the 100-ft. Raised Beach, said to be locally 100 ft. thick was dug for many years at Portobello, near Edinburgh, for the manufacture of bricks,…
Canmore – Tarrasfoot Tile Works, Dumfries & Galloway – The Duke of Buccleuch started Tarrasfoot Tile Works in the early 19th century. The works produced drain tiles that were mainly used on the Buccleuch estate. The works closed in 1969 and by 1975 the buildings were used for storage. There were four fireboxes in the…
(Note – SBH – This page should be read in conjunction with the pages dedicated to the Buccleuch Terracotta Works and the Fauldhead Collieries Brickworks) Canmore Info p32 – The Kirkconnel and Sanquhar coal-beds lie in an area measuring nine miles long with a breadth averaging from two to four miles, and is an extension…
