Found at the old Coltness Iron Works site, Newmains.
The brick is stamped to the side.
GR’s Dykehead – probably stands for General Refractories. However I am uncertain if it was made by GR in England or at one one the Scottish companies they took over.
GR-Stein Refractories Ltd – Formed by merger in 1970 of John G Stein & Co and General Refractories of Sheffield. GR- Stein became a subsidiary of Hepworth Ceramic Holdings Ltd. General Refractories was formed in 1929. It acquired, amongst others, the Glenboig Union Fireclay Co in 1936, which became its Scottish holding company, and Dykehead Gannister & Fireclay Co of Bonnybridge , George Turnbull & Co of Bonnybridge and Castlecary Brick & Fireclay Co, all in 1936.
Below – A very similar stamp found at the same location.
Found by Ian Suddaby near Ravenscraig, Motherwell. This example is not in my possession. Ian states – It’s a shame the markings on many of these relatively modern basic bricks are so faint. At least I can just read this one. Why is the C a bit smaller? SPINELLA MC So this was made by General Refractories…
Found on the site of the old Manuel Brickworks, Whitecross. Ian Suddaby states – A KROMAG brick was found last weekend and I thought this was an American import to Scotland. That was based on the Kromag name being registered to an American company, E. J. Lavino & Co. and a picture of a near…
Found by Ian Suddaby in the Bonnybridge area. This example is not in my possession. Dykehead Fire Clay Works, Bonnybridge, Falkirk. The GR’s refers to General Refractories which bought over the Dykehead Works. . . Below – It is not instantly seen but the motif in the circular stamp on the brick is as per…
A substantial collection of silica fire bricks from steel-making furnaces have now been recovered from a dump site to the rear of the Dalzell Iron and Steelworks, Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. All appear to predate the Ravenscraig Steelworks by around 50 years. Cartographic evidence shows that spoil from the Dalzell Iron & Steel Works and possibly…
Many thanks to Martyn Fretwell and David Cufley for their assistance with creating this page. Many fire bricks are stamped BCM alongside the manufacturer’s name. BCM – British Commercial Monomarks. Below – 10/07/1925 – The Times – Indexing humanity. Men may soon be like motorcars. Lost property solution. Latest in classification. Modern life is to…
Found by Ian Suddaby in Bonnybridge. This example is not in my possession. Dykehead Fire Clay Works, Bonnybridge, Falkirk. GR Dykehead – probably stands for General Refractories. (Note – SBH – A similar example found is stamped GR’s. Has the – ‘s – fallen off this stamp or is this a variation on a theme?)….
The following fire brick core samples were rescued by Joan Faithfull in 2001 when the Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross closed down. They were generously donated to my collection by Joan’s husband, Monty Faithfull and her son, John Faithfull. Such core samples would be sent to the GR-Stein laboratories for tests and analysis. The…
Found in Fife. I believe this was manufactured by Charles Bramall who owned the Caledonian Brickworks, Larkhall c.1904 to his death 1921 – this site was previously known as the Larkhall Brickfields and by 1938 it was known as Birkenshaw Brickworks. Charles Bramall Ltd, a silica brick manufacturer also owned a brickworks in Sheffield manufacturing silica…
Canmore (Note – SBH – I am unable to pinpoint it on the OS Maps – I will try again!) Below – 1856 – Canmore suggests Kittleyknowe Tileworks were at the location of the red cross. 11/05/1881 – Greenock Advertiser – Bankruptcy – John Finnie Allan, farmer, Cardrona Mains and Kittleyknowe, Peebleshire. (Were the tileworks…
Canmore – Dykehead Fireclay Works. Source Falkirk Museum and Archives – George Turnbull and Company, Dykehead Brickworks, Bonnybridge. Established in 1839. Founder Miss Margaret Donald. The works never became profitable and she eventually sold them to marry and emigrated to Australia. The site was later taken over by George Turnbull & Co. The works stood…
