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Hilton waster

Found on the site of the old Hilton Fire Clay Works, Alloa.

This was most likely manufactured on-site.

This is a lovely example of a brick being fired in a kiln and ‘exploding’ as the moisture content in the clay was too high. The water in the clay turns to steam and is forced out causing the typical damage as shown in the photographs below.  Such bricks were unable to be used for building with and were often thrown away – wasters.

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Below – This stretcher appears to have had pipes or drains placed upon it during firing.

 

 

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