Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

Canmore – Herbertshire Brickworks, Millstone Grit and Fireclay Ltd, Denny.

Canmore – Herbertshire Refractories? (Note – SBH – From c. 1900. Robert Addie and Sons Ltd owned the Herberstshire Colliery and mined fireclay as well as the coal. Firebricks were made for a while).

Below – Source Falkirk Museum and Archives. – Herbertshire Brickworks, 16 Sutherland Drive, Denny. Established prior to 1922. The Herbertshire Works changed hands several times, Callendar Coal Company which later became the Callendar Brick and Fireclay Company and Cannerton Brickworks being previous owners. In 1968 The Millstone Grit and Fireclay Company bought the Works. The latter consisted of James McCaig Senior and James McCaig Junior and Mr James Pitman. The site had a Mitchell plastic brick making machine. 1 Hoffman circular kiln which was converted to a Belgian Kiln with a firing temp of 1300c. It had 18 chambers. It also at one stage had a tunnel kiln with 90 cars and a firing temp of 1350c. The works made common bricks made from pit blaes obtained from the Herbertshire Colliery. Fireclay was obtained from Slamannan. The works were connected to 3 mines but most of the material was obtained from the Theap Rig Colliery. The Company originally had a siding off Greenhill but this stopped in the 1960s. The Company had 1 lorry and hired lorries from Walker Brothers, Cowdenbeath.

They exported to Sweden, Germany and the Philippines. When Millstone Grit and Fireclay Company took over in 1968 there were 28 employees consisting of 3 setters, 4 trimmers, 1 hand moulder, 1 engineer, 1 bricklayer and 1 electrician. The works originally produced castables, common bricks, high alumina refractories, mouldables, pipes and tiles and when Millstone Grit and Fireclay Company took over they produced Cuppilla (Crown), Cups, Firebricks, Pups (soaps), Scones (splits), side arches, squares, wedges and whelps.

c. 1900 – 1947 – A survey of Scottish brickmarks 1985 suggests that the  Callendar Coal Company was the owner.

10/02/1900 – Falkirk Herald – Wanted – Panman (steady) accustomed to mill clay for pipe making – Herbertshire Brickworks, Denny.

26/03/1901 – Dundee Evening Telegraph – Serious accident at brickworks – This morning a most serious accident befell a girl named Jemima Mackie, aged 15 years, employed at the Herbertshire Brickworks, Denny. When engaged working a tile machine her left arm got caught, fracturing the humerus bone, and mangling the arm so severely that it feared amputation will be necessary. She was removed the Cottage Hospital.

27/04/1907 – Falkirk Herald – Wanted, Contractors to empty Hoffman Kilns. Also a few good labourers – Herbertshire Brickworks, Denny.

Below – 1913 – Herbertshire Brickworks, Stripeside, Denny. (Herbertshire Colliery is depicted on the 1896 map but not the brickworks)

01/07/1911 – Falkirk Herald – Reference to labourers being charged with sleeping at the Herbertshire Brickworks. The article details that the works were then owned by the Callendar Coal Company.

16/02/1924 – Falkirk Herald – On Tuesday evening, about 7 o clock, the body of a man was found in one of the kilns at Callendar Brickworks, Stripeside, Denny. The body was identified as that of David Donaldson, labourer, who was employed at the brickworks and lodged there by permission of the management. Deceased, who was about 68 years of age, was last seen alive between 3 and 4 in the afternoon, and, as he was working on the night shift, it is thought he must have gone for a lie down in the kiln before going on duty. The body was removed to the police mortuary at Denny. Death was found to be due to natural causes.

30/07/1932 – Falkirk Herald – Denny and Dunipace Town Council meeting … Correspondence was read which had passed between Dr Adam, medical officer of health and the Callendar Coal Company, proprietors of the Herbertshire Brickworks with reference to the recent complaint of the alleged emission of black smoke which was troubling the householders at the Herbertshire Park site. The brickworks proprietors intimated they were adopting different fuel which it was hoped would prevent a recurrence.

Below – 28/12/1935 – Falkirk Herald – Callendar Coal advert with reference to Herbertshire Brickworks.

Below – 28/12/1935 – Falkirk Herald – Article on the Callender Coal Company with reference to the Herbertshire Brickworks.

Below – 26/12/1936 – Falkirk Herald – Callendar Coal advert with reference to Herbertshire Brickworks.

26/12/1936 – Falkirk Herald – Within recent years the coal industry in Stirlingshire has been in a very depressed state, and coal production in the county today is only a fraction of what it once was. In the Falkirk area, for example, what was at one time the most important seam has now been completely exhausted, and the coalowners who have continued to operate mines in the district ate compelled to work the remaining thinner seams, which, fortunately, are numerous. These thinner coal seams are only now beginning to be worked in their lower depths, a development only made possible by the adoption of modern mining methods and the use of up-to-date plant both above and below ground. The Callendar Coal Company, Ltd., whose office is at West End Chambers, Falkirk, have clone much to continue the long tradition of coalmining the Falkirk area by their wise utilisation of these seams, from which they now draw plentiful supplies of house, steam and gas coals. That the company have been enabled to weather the depression of the post-war years, and continue producing coal locally, has no small measure been due to the progressive and far-sighted policy of the directors. In the conduct of the business they have kept abreast of the most modern developments in mining engineering, and the collieries under their control have been fully mechanised to improve production efficiency, and, incidentally, make cheaper coal available for both domestic and industrial consumption. During the past year, to meet increased demand for house coal, the company found it necessary to carry out several important improvements at their mine. This mine has now been equipped with electric coal cutting machines, pumps and haulages, while at the mine-head up-to-date screening and bagging plant has been installed to facilitate the removal of impurities from the coal brought to the surface and also to add to the efficiency of the distribution system. The Auchengean mine, it may be said, is a model of all a colliery should be. This also applies to the other mine workings under the control of the company. In 1936 the companies collieries, it is reported, have enjoyed a period of steady trade. Owing to the cold weather last winter, there was a strong demand for house coal and washed nuts. In the summer months, there was the usual seasonal drop in the demand for coal for domestic purposes, and prices also showed a decrease. There was a distinct improvement in trade from the beginning August 1936, and business has been brisk to the time of writing. Prospects for the coming year are arc bright. It should be noted that miners and other colliery workers have received increased wages this year. Due to the great demand for new houses and extensions to public works, the Callendar and Brick and Tile Works, Denny, a subsidiary concern with the coal company, have been kept busy. The Callendar Fire Clay Works, also an offshoot of the parent company, have recently had their efficiency increased by the installation of new electrically-driven plant, including a deairing sanitary glazed spigot and faucet pipe plant for all sizes. There is every prospect that these two concerns will continue prosperity during 1937.

Below  – 04/02/1942 – Falkirk Herald – Theft of coal.

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11/09/1943 – Falkirk Herald – A demonstration of anti-personnel bombs will be given at the Herbertshire Brickworks tomorrow (Sunday) 12th September at 3 pm and on Tues 14th Sept at 7 pm. All members of the fire fighting groups, WVS, and Housewives Section are requested to attend.

Below – 1946 –  Herbertshire Brickworks, Denny.

1947 – 1968 – A survey of Scottish brickmarks 1985 suggests that the Callendar Brick and Fireclay Co Ltd was the owner.

01/05/1948 – Falkirk Herald – Experienced brickworks foreman required for Herbertshire Brickworks, Denny. Apply Callendar Brick and Fireclay Co Ltd, Glen Brickworks, Falkirk.

Below – 11/12/1948 – Falkirk Herald – No washing facilities at Denny brickworks. A Denny Brickworks with no washing facilities or messroom, where 35 workmen had to shelter in half-empty kilns and near the boiler for warmth during their luncheon break, and drink water from a spring which the Water Board later refused to approve, was described in Stirling Sheriff Court on Tuesday. Callendar Brick and Fireclay Company, brick manufacturers, Herbertshire Works, Denny, were fined £5 in all for three offences of failing to provide washing facilities, messroom and the supply of wholesome drinking water. Miss N, Forster, H.M. Inspector of Factories, said she was not asking for anything extraordinary, but just the ordinary decencies of life for people working in a messy job. ” I think we should have been able to obtain these facilities without having to bring the respondents before the Court.” An agent said a Nissen Hut had been obtained for use messroom, and washing basins had been provided, but these had simply disappeared, presumably having been broken. The company was doing everything for the welfare of the employees.

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06/08/1949 – Falkirk Herald – Wanted, 3 experienced burners for Hoffman kilns – Apply Callendar Brick and Fireclay Co Ltd, Herbertshire Brickworks, Denny.

13/08/1949 – Falkirk Herald – Wanted, 2 experienced mixers for a brick machine, also 6 women for brickworks. Apply Herbertshire Brickworks, Denny.

20/05/1950 – Falkirk Herald – For sale, Nissen hut, 52ft x 18ft, double-lined in perfect condition, been used as a canteen, can be seen at Herbertshire Brick Works, Denny. Arrangements may be made with the Company to rent ground where it sits. Apply J. Gillies, South Garngrew, Castlecary.

20/02/1954 – Falkirk Herald – Obituary – Mr James Haugh Sen, Union Terrace, a man well over 80 years, who spent a considerable part of his lifetime in the management of the Herbertshire Brickworks.

26/02/1955 – Falkirk Herald  – Article on Falkirk industry … Coal and iron, however, did not represent the limit of the mineral wealth of the district for on the south-side it was discovered that fire clay and ganister abounded. Thus midway through the last century, the manufacture of refractory bricks became another major industry in the town. The brickwork in Denny exists today and the quality of the product is world-renowned. There must be few furnaces of fireplaces in factories or dwellings or even afloat anywhere in the world that do not contain brick made from the clay of the Denny district.

17/03/1967 – The Edinburgh Gazette – Factories Act 1961, Employment of women and Young Persons Act. In accordance with section 117 of the Factories Act, 1961, the Minister of Labour hereby gives notice that, during the month ending 28th Feb 1967, he has made special exemption orders relating to the employment of women and or young persons at the following factories: … Cannerton Brick Co. Ltd., Herbertshire Brickworks, Denny.

c. 1968 – A survey of Scottish brickmarks 1985 suggests that the Cannerton Brick Company were the owners.

c. 1968 – A survey of Scottish brickmarks 1985 suggests that the Millstone Grit and Fireclay Company were the owners.

c. 1968 – 1980 – A survey of Scottish brickmarks 1985 suggests that the Hepworth Ceramic Holdings Limited were the owners.