Brick manufacture – did not develop early in Scotland, where there were ample supplies of stone. However, tiles were worked from medieval times, especially for the decoration of religious houses. By the late 18th century, brickmaking for house building was on the rise, as was an interest in the hand manufacture of earthenware tiles and pipes for field drainage, especially in places where a suitable supply of clay existed. This was the case along the coastline from Portobello to Prestonpans. Once waste fireclay and shale (‘blaes’) from coal mining was recognised as having suitable properties for use in pottery and brick manufacture, production was closely linked to the source of these raw materials, as was the case at Prestonpans. At Prestongrange, an interest in agricultural improvement encouraged the manufacture of field drainage tiles which, in turn, led to the manufacture of heavy ceramics. In 1789, two sites produced tiles and bricks, one near the Old Kirk and another, using clay dug locally, at Ravenscroft.
Ravenscroft Brick and Tile Works were situated adjacent to the Northfield Estate on the northside of the road, by the seashore and within the Barony of Prestongrange.
c. 1770 – Works established by a builder from Edinburgh named Thomas Russell.
1789 – Two sites produced tiles and bricks, one near the Old Kirk and another, using clay dug locally, at Ravenscroft.
c. 1790 – 1800 – Caddell, Anderson & Co, Old Kirk Pottery and Brickworks also leased Ravenscroft Brickworks from the owner Alexander Banks via his nieces, misses Clapperton.
1793 – The main brick and tile works in 1793 was located adjacent to the old kirkyard at Prestonpans. It employed only six men but had thirteen kilns fired that year, each capable of holding 10,000 tiles. The smaller works, (Ravenscroft) which were by the shore nearby, employed only three men and had nine slightly smaller kilns fired that year which contained only 9000 tiles each. Both works used the local fireclay, which according to Trotter was ‘found in great plenty in the neighbourhood’.
1813 – David Thomson and Company took over the tile works
1817 – The brick and tile works were sold to Hew Francis Cadell, Cockenzie.
Found by Ian Suddaby on the shore at Prestongrange. This example is not in my possession. The manufacturer is unknown but it is very likely to be a product of the Prestongrange Works. It is also believed that ‘Lion’ may represent the customer and indeed this customer may be the Lion Foundry in Kirkintilloch near…
Found by Sarina Martin in Bremerhaven, Germany. Prestongrange Brick, Tile and Fireclay Works, Prestonpans, East Lothian. . . . .
Found by Hector Miguez in the area of Mendoza, Argentina. Prestongrange Brick, Tile and Fireclay Works, Prestonpans, East Lothian. . . . .
Found by Ian Suddaby on the shore at Prestongrange. This example is not in my possession. Prestongrange Brick, Tile and Fireclay Works, Prestonpans, East Lothian. . . .
1799 – ‘Scotland Delineated or a Geographical Description of every Shire in Scotland’ Edinburgh; Bell & Bradfute & G. G. & J. Robinson London … Near Cousland are a brickworks and a pottery p. 371. (Many thanks to George Haggarty for forwarding this information).
Kilbagie Distillery Brickworks, Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire. Canmore This advert below infers that the Kilbagie Distillery may have had its own brickworks. Below – 03/10/1789 – Caledonian Mercury. . . Below – Brick kilns.
14/07/1923 – Glasgow Herald – Man was not long on the world’s stage when he commenced to work clay and impress on its plastic surface his primitive ideas. A common clay brick, even to the initiated tells its story and forms an important clue in the history of man. In Scotland, the earliest bricks made…
Found by Ian Hawkins in the Edinburgh area. Prestongrange Brick, Tile and Fireclay Works, Prestonpans, East Lothian. Note the triangle shape to the left of the ‘P’. . . .
Found by Chris Graham on the Solway Firth, Dumfries and Galloway. Manufacturer believed to be or at least the brickmark is believed to be F R & C H Luke & Co, Slate Quarry owners & general factors for building materials, Head Office, 122 George Street, Edinburgh. Luke & Co were associated with the Prestongrange Brickworks,…
Notes researched and compiled by George R Haggarty. A brickwork constructed by Joseph Sandes, merchant in Leith sometime prior to the 28th. Sept.1709 2. A brickwork constructed by Gilbert Mathieson Merchant in Edinburgh, and former Baillie of Leith c. 1727; later owned by John Kyle and subsequently by Trinity House. TRINITY HOUSE…
