Lairg Quarry and Brick Company Ltd, Lairg, Sutherland.

Many thanks to Stan Wilson, Dornoch for most of the information detailed here and for the permissions to reproduce the letters below. Stan’s father, Frank Wilson used to be employed at the Works as Manager.

Lairg Quarry and Brick Company Ltd.

Canmore – refers to the quarry but not the brickworks

Lairg Quarry and Brickworks were bought from Lairg Estates who previously run it.

It was bought by a consortium group, the main partners were Wm Tawse Public Works Contractors Aberdeen. The other main partner was McGruther and Marshall Builder Merchants who in recent years were taken over by Travis Perkins.

Another shareholder was a Company from Dundee, Hoods. See below a copy of a letter of congratulations from them when the Lairg Brickworks produced over 3 million bricks in 1951.

The bricks were made of sand and lime and then went into high-pressure steam ovens called autoclaves for curing,

There were large coal-fired boilers that produced the high-pressure steam, hence the connection with Hoods who supplied the coal.

The brickworks also sold Cement/lime/Stone chips/sand etc, to the local builders, or Masons as they were called then.

The quarry side of things came to a halt due to blasting restrictions, as it was right beside the Inverness Thurso/Wick railway line.

The brickworks closed about 1954 at a time shortly after Brora Brickworks re-opened again.

The press that punched out the bricks went to Reay up in Caithness where I believe Wm Tawse produced cement bricks.

The Lairg brick did not stand up to the weather very well unless they were plastered or rendered.

They also produced coloured bricks.

There are the remains of Lime Kilns on what is known as “The Aird”. (Canmore) – The lime used to come down Loch Shin by boat to near the mouth of the River Tirry or Terry as it is known locally. Then there was a cableway arrangement up to the road, with pylons or towers for these cables.

Due to the hydroelectric dam built in the 1950s (Canmore)the Lime Kiln are now flooded when the water level is high.

The lime later came in by rail, there was a rail siding at the brickworks which was next door to the Railway Station which was about two miles from Lairg. Some bricks actually were transported by rail.

28/06/1937 – Aberdeen Press and Journal – Sand lime bricks at Lairg. Sir E. Horne’s enterprise. A new era in the manufacture of bricks in the Highlands was inaugurated at Lairg, Sutherland, on Saturday, when Sir Edgar Home, Bart., pressed a button and set in motion machinery for the production of sand-lime bricks. Sir Edgar, who is the proprietor of Lairg, has already spent thousands of pounds in installing a fully equipped laundry, powerhouse and quarry. His latest contribution to the prosperity of Sutherland, and Lairg in particular, was one which will add considerably to the assets of the county. Mr A. S. Lewis, the controlling engineer, in introducing Sir Edgar to the large company of contractors, architects and county officials from all over the north, said that the machinery about to be set in motion would produce a sand-lime brick equal to if not better than any in the country. Without a word, Sir Edgar touched the button and the mill was set in motion. Following the ceremony, Sir Edgar entertained a large company at luncheon. He expressed delight at having such a representative company present and said he hoped his latest venture would prove a success. His main ambition, he said, since going to Sutherland eighteen years ago was to see the county prosper. If there was prosperity it would retain the native population. As a southerner, he admired the beauties of the county and the hospitality of the inhabitants. It was through the impression formed that he endeavoured to promote the industry in their midst and he hoped that in some small way he had helped to create labour for people who might otherwise have to leave their native home. Sir Edgar was proposing “The County of Sutherland,” and said that in the latest venture he would have the full support of county bodies. Sir Alfred N. Macaulay, Vice-Lieutenant and convener of the county, said that Sir Edgar was very modest in his claims for all he had done for the shire. Sir Edgar was not only a landlord; he was much more; he was a benefactor. All realised Sir Edgar’s generosity and he wished that latest work the success it deserved. The concern is the first brick-making plant in Scotland to manufacture bricks from sand and lime under steam pressure. It has an output of 50,000 bricks weekly, which can be increased if the necessity arises. The sand, which has proved excellent for the purpose, is obtained locally from Loch Shin, and the lime is imported. The sand-lime bricks are ready for building as soon as they are delivered from the machine. The bricks are made in eight hours and are delivered off the machine at the rate of a brick every two seconds. They are practically dampproof and have proved so satisfactory that they were used in the recently-constructed London headquarters of the Royal Institute of Architects and Engineers.

25/11/1946 – Dundee Courier – Brickworks and quarry situated at Lairg, Sutherland, and adjoining the main L.M.S. Railway Station Lairg, and with special siding thereto, are for sale, by a private bargain. Sand and lime brick, with an output of over 2,000,000 bricks a year. Quarry produces road metal, chips and bottoming. For further parties, and arrangements to view apply to the Subscribers. Middleton, Ross and Arnott, Solicitors, North Bank Buildings, Dingwall.

Below – 1947 – Letter from Lairg Quarry and Brick Company re managers post.

Below – 1951 – Letter from Smith and Hood congratulating Lairg Brickworks on manufacturing 3 million bricks.

Below – This unmarked brick was manufactured at Lairg Brickworks. It was recovered on-site by Stan Wilson.

It is from the wall of the brickwork’s office building. This would be from a date before 1947.

This one is made with fine crushed dust and not the fine sand that was used during later years

Tagged with: Cement mix, Headed notepaper, Lairg, Sand-lime

Test castables found at the Manuel Works, Whitecross
— 24/09/2024

The following refractory castable test samples were found during ground works at the Manuel Brickworks, Whitecross by Ian Suddaby and myself. These laboratory test samples are cement-based and have been marked with a marker type pen. Below – The cut edge of each sample. Below – some close up photographs of the cut edge. ….
Alloa
— 22/07/2024

Found at the Alloa Tileworks, Forthbank. These roof tiles appear to have been pressed or moulded using a cement mix. Alloa Tileworks, Forthbank, Alloa, Stirlingshire. . . . .
Alloa Tileworks, Forthbank, Alloa, Stirlingshire
— 09/07/2024

Alloa Tileworks, Forthbank, Alloa, Stirlingshire. 1913 – Works not present on this map. Below – 1946 – Alloa Tileworks, Forthbank (At B.M. – 20.28) Below – 1951 – Alloa Tileworks, Forthbank. Below – 1967 – Alloa Tileworks, Forthbank. Below – An assemblage of ‘Alloa’ roof tiles found on site. These look as if they are…
Shotts
— 08/07/2024

Many thanks to Lindsay Smith and Ian Roy for assisting in the finding and recovery of this brick from the Newpark Estate in Bellsquarry, Livingston area. Shotts Sand-Lime Brickworks, Shotts, North Lanarkshire aka locally as the ‘White Brickworks’. 06/05/1924 – The Scotsman – Electrical engineer’s visit to Shotts Works – Members of the West of…
Dunbrik
— 21/04/2024

Found by Ian Suddaby in the Dumbarton area. This example is not in my possession. Scottish Dunbrik Ltd, Stannergate, Dundee. . . . .
Russell Roof Tile Ltd, Halleaths, Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire
— 09/06/2023

Russell Roof Tiles Below – 20/09/1990 – Galloway News – Russell Roof Tiles Ltd wish to recruit an Assistant Production Manager for their production facility at Lochmaben Nr Lockerbie The Company which is a member of the Alexander Russell Group of Companies manufactures quality roof tiles slates together with accessories in a highly competitive market…
Annandale Tile Co 1986 Ltd, Halleaths, Lochmaben, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire
— 08/06/2023

Russell Roof Tiles 11/06/1987 – Galloway News – The Annandale Tile Co (1986) Ltd manufacturers of quality concrete roof tiles is a recently acquired subsidiary of the Alexander Russell group of companies. Their plans for business development have created an opportunity for an additional sales executive to represent their product range throughout North Cumbria, Borders…
Russell Plain
— 08/06/2023

Found by Ian Suddaby. These examples are not in my possession. They are made from cement/concrete, not clay. Ian states – These roof tiles were made by Russell Roof Tiles, possibly at Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire. The company was started near Glasgow by Alexander Russell in 1892. They’re made of a type of concrete, not clay. Nice though, and…
Stanislaw Sulich – Patented hollow brick
— 08/06/2021

In ‘The British Clay Worker’ magazine dated 15/12/1952 there is an article entitled ‘Recent patents. An improvement hollow building brick or block. Stanislaw Sulich, 35 Grampian Road, Torry, Aberdeen. No 682,010’. This invention relates to an improvement in or modification of the building brick or block claimed and described in Patent No 607,557. This invention…
Costain Concrete Co Ltd, Newarthill, North Lanarkshire
— 25/01/2021

(Note – SBH – I have added some mention of Siporex here as a matter of interest only. It was a purely cement-based brick – no clay of any description used). Below – 12/06/1959 – Wishaw Press – Costain Concrete Co Ltd will manufacture Siporex in Scotland from early 1960. Siporex is a lightweight autoclaved…

Similar articles