Monkcastle Fireclay Mine, Dalry, North Ayrshire aka High Monkcastle.
Douglas Works used local fireclay mined from Langside at Galston, Smithstone at Kilwinning and Monkcastle, which was the last of these local mines to supply fireclay to the works. After Monkcastle stopped supplying the works in 1981, raw materials for production had to be brought in until the works closed in 1982
Below – 1920 – Memoirs of the Geological Survey. Special Reports on the mineral resources of Great Britain. Vol XIV – Refractory materials: Fireclay.
and
1938 – Douglas Firebrick Company Limited. Mine name – Monkcastle – fireclay; Situation – Dalry; 13 employees below ground and 5 above.
1981 – Monkcastle Mine close.
Found by Glyn Harrison at an unknown location in New Zealand. This example is not in my possession. Douglas Fireclay Works, Dalry, Ayrshire. The reference to Bigelow on this special undoubtedly refers to the Bigelow Arch Company of Detroit, USA. Bigelow-Liptak Corporation was originally incorporated in 1927 with the merger of the Bigelow Arch Company of…
Found by Glyn Harrison at an unknown location in New Zealand. This example is not in my possession. Douglas Fireclay Works, Dalry, Ayrshire. The reference to Bigelow on this special undoubtedly refers to the Bigelow Arch Company of Detroit, USA. Bigelow-Liptak Corporation was originally incorporated in 1927 with the merger of the Bigelow Arch Company of…
Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. Douglas Fireclay Works, Dalry, Ayrshire. This example was probably manufactured by Douglas Fireclay Works under a licence from Detrick. The M.H. Detrick Company is a heat refractory manufacturing company, based out of Mokena, Illinois. The company primarily sells suspended refractory constructions and industrial heat enclosures to various businesses. Founded…
Found by Janet Archey in an avocado grove in Fallbrook, California. . . . . . Below – Nettle – D brick Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. Below – Douglas – D…
Many thanks to Charlie Terry for the following photographs and information. Charlie states – My great-grandfather worked at the Beaconsfield and Lefroy gold mines in Tasmania. He was an assayer. Some of the bricks are still in their original boxes and have been stored in a shed for decades. Below – An example of one…
Found at Manuel Works, Whitecross by Ian Suddaby. This example is not in my possession The manufacturer of this checker is unknown although the find site would suggest it was made at the Manuel Works, Whitecross’ Scotland. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor…
Found by David Kitching at Dunaskin, Ayrshire. This example is not in my possession. Douglas Fireclay Works, Dalry, Ayrshire. . . .
Found by John Winter in an inner Brisbane Creek, Australia. Douglas Fireclay Works, Dalry, Ayrshire. . . . .
Found by Jim in the Sheffield area. This example is not in my possession. I believe this is a Douglas Fireclay Works, Dalry, Ayrshire product as per this reference. I will record it as such until proven otherwise. “The VIIth International Ceramic Congress was held in Britain in 1960, and on 24th May the members…
Found by Jim in the Sheffield area. This example is not in my possession. Douglas Fireclay Works, Dalry, Ayrshire. . . .
