Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

1840 – By the 19th century, there was a need for a school in the Newbattle area. Newbattle paper mill opened in 1795, Newbattle and Newton Grange collieries had opened, Newbattle Brick and Tile works opened in 1840, (not detailed on 1855 OS Map?) and Newbattle Gasworks opened in 1873.

1862 – Newbattle Collieries Lime, Brick & Tile Works Dalkieth. James Davidson Manager.

Below – 09/04/1863 – Southern Reporter – Trial for culpable homicide – James Davidson, Pitmanhead at Newbattle Colliery on trial and thereafter found not guilty.

Below – 30/12/1865 – The Scotsman – Newbattle Brickwork for sale.

1866 – Frederick Jacob, bricklayer and furnace builder, Wardie Avenue, Ferry Road and at Newbattle, Dalkeith. (Note – SBH – Is the reference to Newbattle a reference to Jacob being involved with Newbattle Brickworks after its sale 1865/66?).

1867 – The most noble, The Marquis of Lothian – Newbattle Colliery. Jas Davidson Manager and Mining Engineer.

1868 – James Davidson, Newbattle Collieries, Lime and Brick Works, Dalkeith.

1868 – 1869 – Wm McAlley, Manager, Newbattle Brickworks, Dalkeith.

22/05/1869 – Edinburgh Evening Courant – reference to the workmen of Newbattle Collieries and Brickwork, employed by the Marquis of Lothian per J Davidson Esq, Manager donating £55 18s 10d to the rebuilding of the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh.

1870 – 1871 – Wm McAlley, Manager, Newbattle Brickworks, Dalkeith. (P 59).

1872 – National Records of Scotland – Bundle 4 (nos. 86-116). Outlay on estate. Include (90). 1872, Dec. 27. Receipted accounts (2) from James Waldie and Sons, Leith, coal & coke merchants & lessees of Newbattle Brick & Tile Works. Printed bill-head with a vignette of pit pumphouse (Cornish pumping engine) and sailing ship.

27/04/1874 – Shields Daily Gazette – Fatal stabbing affray – On Saturday night, a man named William Armstrong, a workman at Newbattle Brickworks, was fatally stabbed at a village about 2 or 3 miles from Dalkeith during a drunken fight. He died shortly after the assault. Four men were apprehended. A knife marked with blood was found in possession of one of them. Armstrong was about 20 years of age. and this more expansive report – Edinburgh Evening News and The Paisley Herald

Below – 08/12/1876 – Banffshire Reporter – Advert for William Brown. He has left Edmonstone Fireclay Works and leased the Newbattle Fireclay Works and Common Clay Works. He has also added an iron foundry.

09/12/1876 – Dundee Courier – Burners and a few fireclay workers wanted. Newbattle Fireclay Works, Near Dalkeith.

28/02/1877 – Glasgow Herald – Clerk – Wanted, a person that has been amongst fire clay works. State wage expected and give a reference. Wm Brown, Newbattle Fire Clay Works, near Dalkeith.

1878 – The Most Noble Marquis of  Lothian (and manufacturer of brick & drain tiles, &c.), Newbattle Colliery — James Davidson, manager and mining engineer; office, Lingerwood.

24/04/1878 – Glasgow Herald – Wanted a few good brickwork hands – Apply personally to Newbattle Fire Clay Works, near Dalkeith.

01/06/1878 – Dundee Courier – Brickwork hands wanted – None need apply but those acquainted with the work. Newbattle Brickworks, Dalkeith.

02/05/1880 – Fife News – Millwright or engineer wanted to work wood or iron. Apply at the Newbattle Brickwork, Dalkeith.

31/07/1880 – Glasgow Herald – Fire clay burner, mull wright and fitter wanted. Apply personally to the Newbattle Fire Clay Works, Dalkeith.

28/10/1881 – Edinburgh Evening News – Reference to William Brown, Newbattle Brickwork.

04/01/1883 – Southern Reporter – For sale – Field drains – 2″ double soled, 2″ round and up to 15″ bore. Wm Brown, Tileworks near Dalkeith.

1882 – 1885 – Wm Brown, Newbattle Brick and Tile Works, Dalkeith.

29/04/1884 – Glasgow Herald – Brick barrows for horse wanted – 3 wet and 3 dry – second hand. Apply Wm Brown & Sons, Newbattle Brickworks, Dalkeith and Smithy – Smithy cons? wanted – second hand – Apply Wm Brown & Sons, Newbattle brick works, Dalkeith – municipal nomination for Dalkeith.

01/08/1884 – Glasgow Evening Post – Sewerage pipe makers – contractors wanted for the output of Newbattle Brickworks, Dalkeith.

25/09/1884 – Aberdeen Press and Journal – At the High Court of Justiciary yesterday, Manuel Collins pleaded guilty to stealing several articles of wearing apparel from a both at Newton Grange Brickworks, Newbattle and was sentenced to 7 years penal servitude.

1886 – William Brown and Sons, brick and fire clay manufacturers, Newbattle.

24/03/1887 – Dalkeith Advertiser – Garden flower vases. Various sizes and designs to be had at Newbattle Brickworks.

04/06/1887 – Glasgow Herald – 01/06/1887 – George William Brown, tenant of Newbattle Fire brick works, near Dalkeith in the County of Edinburgh and carrying on business there, as a brick and fire clay manufacturer in his own name and also under the name or style of William Brown & Sons. Creditors to meet in Lyon & Turnbull’s Rooms Edinburgh on 10/06/1887 at 12 noon …

08/06/1887 – Yorkshire Post – Scotch sequestration – George William Brown – near Dalkeith, brick and fire clay manufacturer.

28/06/1887 – Glasgow Herald – Edinburgh bankruptcy court – At this court yesterday, George William Brown, brick manufacturer, Newbattle Fire Brickworks near Dalkeith was examined in bankruptcy. In reply to Mr Munro, CA, trustee, bankrupt stated that he began a business on 01/10/1883, in company with his brother William. They purchased the business from their father and when the transfer was made their father was deficient to the extent of £1350. The business had been profitable in former years but the bankrupt’s father made a heavy loss in connection with an iron foundry. His father went abroad and his brother left the firm and went abroad about 12 months later. The firm was never formally dissolved, and there was no deed of copartnery, though it was understood each was to have an equal share of the profits. The business had been a profitable one since he took it over, but he had heavy liabilities in connection with his father’s estate and this and the want of capital had contributed to his present difficulties. The rent of the brickwork averaged about £280 a year and the turnover averaged about £3500 a year. His immediate cause of stoppage was creditors pressing for payment and bad debts. The state of affairs showed liabilities amounting to £1009 16s 4d and assets £315 leaving a deficiency of £694 16s 4d. The statutory oath was administered by Sheriff Hamilton.

28/10/1890 – Dundee Courier – Deaths – At Washington, New York on the 1st Oct, George William Brown, late of Elm Lodge, Eskbank and Newbattle Brickworks.

10/05/1892 – Glasgow Evening Post – Fatal Accident in Dalkeith – while at work at Newbattle Brickwork yesterday, John McCabe was crushed between the buffers of two waggons. He expired shortly after being taken to his home in Dalkeith.

1893 – 1896 – Newbattle Brick and Tile Works, Dalkeith. Lothian Coal Co Limited.

Below – 1893 – Newbattle Brick and Tile Works.

Below – 1906 – Newbattle Brickworks – A different location from the 1893 map above. The site above is the sewage works on the 1944 map.

c. 1910 – 1947 – The 1985 publication ‘A survey of Scottish brickmarks’ suggests that the Lothian Coal Company were the owners or operators around this time.

Below – c.1944 – Newbattle Brickworks.

Below – 1944 – 1967 – Newbattle Brickworks.

1947 – The brickworks were taken over by the National Coal Board.

1950 – Brickworks closed?  The SIAS survey of Scottish brickmarks in 1985 suggests they closed c. 1960’s?

Below – The following products were found in the same building as the Newbattle 1862 bricks and are believed to be products of the works although they are not marked.

Below – An unmarked frogged building brick.

Below – An unmarked roof ridge tile made from fire clay

.

.