Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

1863 – Bell and Hornsby letterheads of 1893 state that Bell, Hornsby & Co were established in 1863 and reference the Polmadie Brickworks, Glasgow and the Langlands Brickworks, Govan on the same letterheads. The brickworks may not have been established at the same time as the Company.

1873 – 1874 – The Langlands Brick Co, Langlands, Govan.

1873 – 1874 – Bell, Hornsby & Co. 197 Pollokshaws Rd.

26/10/1875 – Glasgow Herald – Langlands Brickwork, West End of Govan. Sale of 10 valuable draught horses and several useful ponies. Filly, rising two years nearly thoroughbred, out of celebrated West Country mare by Mr Houldsworths thoroughbred, Czar. 1 lorry in good order (to carry 5 tons). 1 lorry with portable sides (light, suitable for furniture &c), 6 close carts, harness &c.(The property of Robert Dempster Esq and others who are reducing stock owing to the completion of contracts and the close of the brickmaking season). James Laird has received instructions to sell as above, today (Tuesday) 26th October commencing at 12 o’clock. Langlands Brickworks is a few minutes walk on the Langlands Road, southwest of the car terminus.

1875 – 1876 – Langlands Brick Company, Langlands, Govan, Glasgow.

08/10/1877 – Glasgow Herald – Extensive sale of horses. Sold owing to the close of the brickmaking season. On Thursday 11th October at Brickwork, 625 Eglinton Street, Glasgow at 12 noon. Sale of 40 powerful draft horses and 20 bogie ponies. (The property of Messrs Gilchrist & Goldie; Wilson & Sons, McIntyre & Sons; Bell, Hornsby & Co; Corbet; Steven; Dempster; Wallace and others). Hutchison & Dixon beg to announce instructions from the above firms to dispose of by auction, the horses and ponies used by them during the summer season. They will be found well suited for placing upon immediate work and the ponies are worthy the attention of coal masters. Amongst the principal lots are –

11. Dark brown harness mare about 15 hands, 8 years old, steady in single harness with colt foal at foot by ‘Prince of Galloway’ dropped 1st April.  The property of Robert Dempster Esq, Langlands Brickworks, Govan.

12. ‘Bell’ a black mare, 15 hands high, 5 years old. Warranted sound and free from vice. The property of George Eadie Esq).

30. Dun-coloured gelding, 15.2 hands, 4 years old. Warranted a good worker and quiet.

31. Roan gelding, 14 hands. Warranted a good worker and quiet. The property of Alex Eadie Esq, Inglefield Works).

33. ‘Cocker’ a handsome bay cob gelding with grand action, stands about 15 hands high, 5 years old. Warranted a good worker in single harness and quiet to ride.

34. ‘Birdie’. A dark brown draught gelding, 7 years old. Warranted a good worker and quiet.

1878 – 1879 – William McNeish, Langlands Brickworks, 168 McLean St.

09/04/1879 – Glasgow Herald – Properties for sale by private bargain and in whole or in lots. 1. The lands of Langlands in the parish of Govan consisting, so far as not already feued. of 18 1/2 acres or thereby, of eligible feuing ground with the minerals therein, consisting of coal and ironstone. There is a considerable rental derived from the buildings and brickfield on the lands. 2. The lands of Merryflatts adjoining Langlands, consisting of 30 acres or thereby, eligible feuiug ground, with the minerals therein, consisting as abore. A considerable part of the price of both properties might be allowed to lie on bond. The feu duty is illusory in both cases. Mr John Gribbin, residing at Upper Merryflatts will point out the boundaries of the lands. …

07/05/1880 – Glasgow Herald – Brickfield workers wanted. Clayholemen, Dykers &c. Apply to the foreman of Langlands Brickworks, Govan.

Sept – Nov 1880 – Invoices – Bell and Hornsby and Co, brickmakers, builders and contractors. Office 197 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow. (No reference to a particular brickwork)

28/06/1884 – Sept 1884 – Invoices – Bell and Hornsby and Co, brickmakers, builders and contractors. Brickworks Polmadie and Langlands, Govan. Office 197 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow.

1886 – Bell, Hornsby & Co, 197 Pollokshaws Rd; Brickfields, Polmadie, Glasgow, Langlands, Govan, Blairdardie, Duntocher.

1891 – 1895 – Invoices – Bell and Hornsby and Co, brickmakers, builders and contractors. Brickworks Polmadie, Glasgow and Langlands, Govan. Office 176 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow.

Below – 1894 – Langlands Brickworks, Govan.

1896 – 1897 – Bell, Hornsby & Co – Brickmakers, 176 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow. (Note – SBH – I have added this reference here as I do not know which of Bell, Hornsby and Co’s works it refers to).

1910 – The Langlands Brickworks look to have gone by 1910.

Source – Bell, Hornsby & Co. – Mason and brickwork contractors – Bell, Hornsby & Co. were a building and contracting firm, and one of many brick manufacturers in the Glasgow area. From the 1860s to the 1890s, local brick was widely used for factories, and for the internal and rear walls of stone-faced commercial and domestic buildings). Of the original partners, Alexander Hamilton seems to have been the longest-established, manufacturing bricks at Lilybank off Eglinton Street, on the south side of the city, from about 1852.  He expanded into tile making, operating from a second brickworks at Strathbungo in 1858, before becoming a ‘silent partner’ in Bell, Hornsby. Another partner, Robert Bell, possibly ran a bricklaying firm in South Wellington Street c. 1857 (He is not to be confused with the wealthy Wishaw and Broxburn industrialist of the same name, who was also a brickmaker). Other partners were John Thomson Hornsby and Alexander Whitelaw, a Greenock based builder.