Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

Canmore

The name Brand crops up twice in “A Survey of Scottish Brickmarks” with the first instance being Robert Brand proprietor/owner of Garturk Brickworks and the other, James, Janet and Robert Brand, also proprietors/owners, of Rochsolloch Brickworks.

1852 – 1873 – The 1985 publication ‘A survey of Scottish brickmarks’ suggests that James, Janet and Robert Brand operated the works during this period.

21/05/1855 – Glasgow Herald – Fire brick works for sale – To be sold, the Rochsolloch Fire Brick Work near Airdrie. The work is situated on the bank of the canal and the supply of fire clay is abundant and of excellent quality. There are 3 kilns, one of them on the principle of Ferguson, Miller & Co’s Patent; and all having been in use for only a few months, are in good condition. Offers to be given by the 31st instant to Mr Smith at the works who will give all particulars.

29/10/1855 – Glasgow Herald – Fire Brick Works for sale – To be sold by public roup upon the field, on Thursday the First November next, at Twelve o’clock Noon, The Rochsolloch Fire Brick Work, near Airdrie.  The work is in the immediate neighbourhood of the numerous ironworks of the district and has facilities for transit by canal and railway enjoyed by few works of this kind. The work, which is quite new, has been erected on the most approved principles, and contains an engine of fourteen horsepower, two grinding pans, a tunnel for drying bricks, of a new construction, and three kilns, capable of burning 65,000 bricks, one of these on Ferguson, Miller & Co.’s patent plan.  The supply of clay is abundant, of excellent quality, and to be had at a low price.  For further particulars, apply to Mr Wilson, of the Rochsolloch Pits, adjoining the work; Mr John Smith, 87 Alexander Street, Airdrie; Mr David Crichton, Auctioneer, Coatbridge; or Mr J M.Taylor, Writer, 20 St. Vincent Place; in whose hands are the articles of the roup. Glasgow, 20th October 1855.

27/03/1857 – Glasgow Herald – Fire brick work to be let – situated on the Canal Bank at Rochsolloch near Coatbridge. The erections are almost new, are in good working order and immediate entry can be had. Mr Wilson at Rochsolloch Colliery will show the works and give all the information.

10/04/1857 – Glasgow Herald – For sale, the Rochsolloch Fire Brick Works and a lot of about 200,000 fire and composition bricks. There will be exposed to sale, by public roup, on the ground at Rochsolloch, near Coatbridge, on Monday the 20th April 1857, at Half-past One o’clock P.M.,  The brickwork known as the Rochsolloch Fire Brick Work, and situated in the immediate neighbourhood of Coatbridge and Airdrie.  The work consists of two kilns, capable of burning about 20,000 each; a large wooden drying shed, and one kiln, presently used as a drying stove; together with a steam engine of 15 horse-power, with boiler &c., and grinding mills-is also a dwelling house on the property, suitable for a manager.  The work is most conveniently situated on the bank of the canal and possesses easy and direct communication with Port Dundas and the numerous ironworks in the neighbourhood.  The property is held on lease, which can be extended for such a period of time as may be wished.  In the event of not being sold in one lot, the whole work, including the steam engine, boiler, grinding mill, kilns, chimney stalk, brick tunnels, wooden shed and planking, iron rails, and a variety of other material and implements will be exposed in lots to suit purchasers, and for removal from the premises.  There will also be sold, at the above time and place, about 200,000 fire and composition bricks, of very superior make and material, in lots of 5000 of 10,000 to suit purchasers. For further particulars, apply to Mr John Thomson, Glenboig Brickworks; or to Taylor & Craig, writers, 20 St. Vincent Place, Glasgow, who will show the conditions of sale or to the subscriber David Crichton, auctioneer, Sunnyside, Coatbridge.

1858 – Mineral Statistics of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for 1858 – Rochsolloch, clay of coal measures. Name of freeholder – R. Alexander Esq. Manufacturer – Clark & Walker. Manufacture – Bricks, covers, linings &c. Estimated 1,600 tons annually.

Below – 1858 – Rochsolloch Brickworks.

1858 – 1861 – ScotlandsPlaces – Rochsolloch Brickworks – Mr James Clark, Messrs Clark & Walker. Mr Cowie. An establishment for the manufacture of common and fire bricks, the whole conducted by Messrs Clark and Walker.

29/05/1858 – Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser – Rochsolloch Brickworks. Clark and Walker respectfully intimate to ironmasters, coal masters, builders and to the public generally that they can be supplied with fire and composition bricks, ground clay &c of the best quality and on the most reasonable terms. Clark & Walker embrace the present opportunity of returning their thanks for the patronage they have received in the past and respectfully solicit a continuation of the same for the future. Rochsolloch Brickworks 24/05/1858.

13/07/1860 – Glasgow Herald – To builders and consumers of bricks – Clark, Walker & Co, brick manufacturers, Rochsolloch Brickworks near Coatbridge are prepared to supply composition and fire bricks of a first-rate quality and on moderate terms at their depot, Monkland Basin, North Side, St Rollox. Apply at the depot or their office, 112 West George Street.

21/12/1861 – Perry’s Bankrupt Gazette – James Walker, John McAra senior, and Biby Leonard, Iron and Brick Manufacturers, Rochsolloch, Airdrie as regards Walker 5th December (Rochsolloch Brickworks?) Scotch bankruptcy 06/12/1855.

Below – 16/03/1872 – Belfast News Letter – Speirs, Gibb, & Young goods for sale including Rochsolloch white facing bricks.

1874 – 1881 – The 1985 publication ‘A survey of Scottish brickmarks’ suggests that James Miller operated the works during this period.

1878 – James Miller – Facing bricks, Rochsolloch (Roshollock) Fire Clay Works, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire.

1882 – David Brownlee, brick and tile maker and builder, Rochsolloch.

Below – 1882 – Advert – David Brownlee, brickmaker, Rochsolloch, Coatbridge.

Below – 1886 – Advert – David Brownlee, brickmaker,  Rochsolloch, Coatbridge.

19/06/1886 – Lanarkshire Upper Ward Examiner – In the Sheriff Ordinary Court at Linlithgow, an action was recently raised at the instance of David Brownlie, Rochsolloch Brickworks, Coatdyke, Coatbridge, against William McAward, builder, Linlithgow, for the sum of £35 18s, as being the amount of an account for bricks supplied between 28th October 1884 and 4th February 1885. For the defender, it was maintained that the bricks alleged to have been sold and delivered by the pursuer to the defender were not sold to him as an individual, but were, on his orders, sold and delivered to the partnership or joint adventure of McAward & McKarney, bricklayers, Falkirk, for the building, by special contract, of a school and schoolhouse at Slamannan in connection with the Roman Catholic Church.

22/05/1888 – Glasgow Herald – Accident in a brickwork. Yesterday afternoon, William Cullen, a labourer living in Calderbank, was badly injured by a fall of a large quantity of clay in the clay hole at Rochsolloch Brickwork, Airdrie. The clay had been loosened in consequence of heavy rains during the thunderstorm and it completely covered Cullen in the hole, his back and other parts being seriously hurt.

1895  – 1897 – Invoices – David Brownlee, Rochsolloch Brickworks, Coatbridge. Compo bricks and white facing bricks.

1896 – David Brownlie (spelling?) brick maker, Rochsolloch, Airdrie.

1896 – Alex Coltart, brick maker Rochsolloch, Airdrie.

Below – 1897 – Rochsolloch Brickworks.

04/11/1899 – Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser – Wanted a young man as a clerk. Apply Rochsolloch Brickworks, Airdrie.

1903 – Records of Shirlaw Allan, Industrial auctioneers, Hamilton, Scotland. For sale – Brick-making plant and machinery. Rochsolloch Brickworks by Airdrie.

Below – 14/03/1903 – Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser – Sale of brick-making plant and machinery at Rochsolloch Brickworks on the instructions of David Brownlie.(Brownlee)

Below – 14/08/1920 – The Scotsman – Sale of Rochsolloch Brickworks due to David Brownlee retiring.

See also Mason Brownlee Rochsolloch