Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

(Note – SBH – If there are any John Paterson references that I cannot attribute to a particular brickworks then I will detail them here).

John Paterson, brickmakers and building contractors was founded around 1865, by John Paterson, the son of a stonemason. The business became John Paterson & Son in the mid-1880s when John Paterson Junior (c. 1873–1931) joined the firm. Over the next three decades, they became increasingly active in brickmaking, acquiring Nursery, Sheepmount, Caledonian and Temple Brickworks, all on the south side of Glasgow. The Patersons based themselves at several addresses around Polmadie and Pollokshaws Roads for most of their existence.

By 1881 the firm had a sizeable workforce of 65, and won valuable contracts such as those for the sewers around Glasgow Central Railway, worth £45,000, in 1889; the construction of tunnels for Glasgow’s new underground railway from Shields Road Station (1892–4); and of a tidal weir across the Clyde at Glasgow Green (1895–6).In 1895 they were sub-contractors on Cessnock Dock for the Clyde Navigation Trust and constructed the gasholder tank at Tradeston Gasworks. Their expertise in public utilities saw them involved in the construction of waterworks at Arbroath and Belfast (1898–9), and of a reservoir at Milngavie (1905).

The firm became a limited company in 1891 with a share capital of £40,000. Having decided to concentrate on brickmaking, the company sold off their electric winches, steam cranes, lathes, theodolites, and other builders’ plant in 1913. Their brick kilns in Polmadie Road were still active in 1939.  The firm ceased operations in 1963. – source

1877 – 1878 – John Paterson, builder, brickmaker, and contractor, Sydney Court, 62 Argyle Street; House, Cathkin View, Albert Road, Crosshill.

1881 – 1882 – John Paterson, builder, brickmaker, and contractor, 522 Pollokshaws Road; Ho. Cathkin View, Albert Road, Crosshill.

1885 – 1886 – John Paterson & Son, builders, brickmakers, and contractors, Nursery Brickworks, Pollokshaws Road, Sheepmount Brickworks, New City Road; office, 522 Pollokshaws Road.

1886 – Donald R Paterson, brickmaker (John Paterson & Son), Hillfoot, Nithsdale Rd, Pollokshields.

John Paterson & Son, brickmakers, builders & contractors, 522 Pollokshaws Road.

John Paterson, brickmaker (John Paterson & Son), Hillfoot, Nithsdale.

John Paterson, brickmaker, Sheep’s Mount, New City Rd. & Shaw’s Rd.

Below – 1888 – The Nursery Brickworks situated at the junction of Nithsdale Drive and Pollokshaws Road. (Note – SBH – The brickfield shown just to the east of the Nursery Brickworks was being operated by the Muirhouses Brickworks, certainly in 1878).

1888 – 1889 – John Paterson & Son, builders, brickmakers, and contractors. Nursery Brickworks, Pollokshaws Road. Office, 522 do.

1890 – 1891 – John Paterson & Son, builders, brickmakers, and contractors, Caledonian Brickworks, Polmadie Rd. Nursery Brickworks, Pollokshaws Rd. Office, 5 Dixon Street.

Below – 07/02/1891 – Edinburgh Gazette – John Paterson v Thomas MacLeod.

Below – 1893 – Nursery Brickworks.

1895 – 1896 – John Paterson & Son (Ltd.), builders, brickmakers, and contractors, Caledonian Brickworks, Polmadie Rd., Nursery Brickworks, Pollokshaws Rd. Office, 2 Commerce Street. Telephone No. 933.

Below – 1896 – John Paterson & Sons, Glasgow Building Trades Exchange (p. 131).

Below – 1895 – 1897 – I have 3 pieces of headed statements in respect of John Paterson covering these years and their offices seem to change regularly. The following addresses are mentioned.

5 Dixon Street, Glasgow.

2 Commerce Street, Glasgow.

21 Clyde Place, Glasgow.

552 St. Enoch Square, Glasgow.

Below – 1895 – 1897 – I have 4 headed invoices in respect of John Paterson covering these years. From 1895 t0 August 1896 they detail Caledonian and Nursery Brickworks on the printed letterhead. On the letterhead dated Feb 1897, only the Caledonian Brickworks are detailed which may suggest that the Nursery Brickworks were closed by then.