The following bricks were recovered by Michael Fallone at the UCBS factory, Glasgow.
The company of J. C. Edwards (Ruabon) Ltd, was based in Ruabon, Denbighshire, and was active from 1903 to 1956 as a brick, tile and terracotta manufacturer from its works at Tref-y-Nant, Acrefair, Albert Works, Rhosllannerchrugog, and Pen-y-bont, Newbridge, Denbighshire. James Coster Edwards (1828-1896) founded the company. It was sold in 1956.
These bricks were recovered from the United Co-operative Baking Society biscuit factory, McNeil Street, Hutchesontown, Glasgow. It occupied the block encompassing McNeil Street, Ballater Street, Adelphi Street and Moffat Street. These particular bricks were from the facade in Adelphi Street and date from c.1908.
The UCBS was founded in 1869 to supply bread to the city’s co-op branch stores. It had a large factory in McNeil Street in Hutchesontown which employed nearly 1,000 people by 1958. The advert notes that the UCBS baked 50 per cent of all the bread eaten in the city.
Co-operative societies played a large part in retail distribution in Glasgow. A 1950 census indicated they accounted for one tenth of all retail sales in the city. Between 1938 and 1954 the combined membership of Glasgow’s eight co-op societies rose by nearly 50 per cent, from nearly 135,500 to over 210,000 people.
This advertisement depicts three students dressed up in fancy dress for Charity Week holding a giant slice of bread. The importance of bread as the fuel of the city is demonstrated by the depictions of famous landmarks: the University of Glasgow; George Square and the shipyards.
Below – J.C.E manufactured bricks – 3 variations on a theme. The larger moulded brick in the centre is basically 3 bricks wide and is marked CB2.
The brick to the left is marked J.C.E and CB 35.
The brick to the right is marked PL 10.
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The following Scottish bricks weer found on site.
Below – 4 x Gilmour, Kilmarnock bricks found on site. They had been used to decorate the McNeil Street facade and date from c. 1886 – 1889.
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These 3 Gilmours were also found at the same location. The top one is stamped to the end with a ‘1’ or ‘I’
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Below – this special shape is not stamped but was found sandwiched all round by Gilmours and there is no reason to suspect it was not manufactured by Gilmour.
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Below – 3 x W Thomson Glasgow bricks also found at this site. They were situated in the Moffat Street facade.
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Below – 1939 – Advertisement for the United Co-operative Baking Society.
1897 – Annual report of the School Committee of the City of Boston – … New Primary Schoolhouse, Vernon street, Roxbury, additional, §14,000. — It will be noted that the next few weeks will witness the completion of several school-houses begun during the previous year, including this new Primary School-house containing ten rooms, and replacing…
Messrs Stewarts and Lloyds Ltd, Main Street, Coatbridge. Clyde Tube Works, Main Street, Coatbridge. Canmore – This building now appears to be a courthouse. Information. 22/09/1906 – Coatbridge Leader – Messrs Stewarts and Lloyds Ltd. Description of new offices. Messrs Stewart and Lloyds Limited have just completed the erection of new offices at the corner…
Many thanks to Mike Allan for the following information and photographs. Mike states – These two octagonal chimney ‘cans’ were salvaged by me from our family house at Osborne Place, Dundee (built 1869). Methven, Kirkcaldy, was in the business of both homewares and utilities. Garnkirk, Lanark, made utilitarian wares. Ours was one of 4 houses,…
Ian Suddaby states – Carrick Academy in Maybole, Ayrshire is soon to replaced with a modern community hub, school and leisure centre. The existing school was built from red brick and red sandstone in 1925 and extra accommodation was added in the 1970s. Digging work in the grounds suggests that the 1925 building was made…
Yoker Railway Station, Yoker, Glasgow aka Yoker Ferry Station. The bricks below were recovered by Michael Fallone and his grandson Max Borland at the site of the Yoker Ferry Station, Yoker, Glasgow. The outward appearance of the bricks with regards colour and texture is exactly the same but the bricks were manufactured by two completely…
Found by Drew Mitchell in the Fife area. This brick came from an internal, original wall of Drews house and is therefore dated 1892 as per the house build. Appin Brickworks, Townhill, Dunfermline. . . . .
Found by Ethan Jones in the area of Wigan, England. I am no in possession of this example. The ‘B’ is stamped to the header. Bonnyton Fireclay Works, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. . . .
Canmore – Exploratory excavations near the edge of the Merse have revealed an area that was either the off-loading area for the 18th-century jetty or the site of a brickworks known to be functioning in the 1750s. An unroofed structure annotated ‘Old Brick Kiln’ is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map *******************************…
The Oban Hills Hydropathic Sanatorium was a proposed Hydropathic Hotel in Oban, Scotland. Construction of the hotel began in 1881 on a hill east of the downtown overlooking the town and the harbour. Had it been completed the hotel would have been a major landmark on the Oban skyline. The hotel was never completed due…
20/02/1886 – Falkirk Herald – Field young grass, about 6 acres. Hay or grazing. Apply Thomas Burns, The Firs Brick and Tile Work. 29/01/1887 – Alloa Advertiser – For sale. Quantity of drain pipes, various sizes, house tiles and flower pots, all superior quality. Load C.R or N.B Rail. James Potter, Firs Brick and Tile…
