Many thanks to Ian Green and Jill Williams, Edinburgh for their outstanding assistance with regards information relating to these works. The references below come mainly from census and valuation roll entries.
1827 – 1829 – Robert Bruce, bricklayer, 5 Queens Place, Greenside, Edinburgh.
1830 – 1832 – Robert Bruce, bricklayer, Reids Close, Canongate, Edinburgh.
1833 – 1838 – Robert Bruce, bricklayer, 72 Canongate, Edinburgh.
1839 – 1847 – Robert Bruce, bricklayer, 86 Canongate, Edinburgh.
1842 – Robert Bruce, bricklayer and furnace builder, 86 Canongate, Edinburgh.
1848 – 1873 – Robert Bruce, bricklayer and furnace builder, 23 Union Place, Edinburgh.
1848 – 1845 – In the year of Robert’s move to Union Place, there is the first mention of Henry Struthers, as presumably the owner of Wardie Brickworks. He remains such until 1854, and then disappears.
1848 – Henry Struthers, brick and tile works, Wardie, Edinburgh.
1852 – Henry Struthers, brick, tile and cement works, Wardie.
Below – 1852 – Wardie Brick and Tile Works.
Below – 1852 – Wardie Brick and Tile Works.
1852 – 1853 – ScotlandsPlaces – Wardie Brick and Tile Works. A brick and tile work situated about one-half mile south of Granton, on the Wardie Burn, occupied by Archibald Struthers, Winchburgh. It keeps employed an average of about 8 men throughout the year.
1852 – 1853 – ScotlandsPlaces – Wardie Brick and Tile Works. Situated to the West side of Granton Road. An extensive brick & tile works situated on the West side of the Granton Road; the property of the heirs of the late Captn [Captain] Boswall and occupied by Mr Struthers.
1854 – 1855 – Henry Struthers, Brick, Tile and Cement Works, Wardie, Edinburgh.
1855 – 1862 – In 1855, Robert Bruce appears to take over from Henry Struthers, continuing there until 1862.
1855 – 1856 – R Bruce & Co, Brick and Tile Makers, Wardie, Granton.
Below – 18/04/1855 – North British Agriculturist – Robert Bruce, bricklayer and furnace builder, Edinburgh and George Ingram, brick and tile maker, manufacturer, Portobello take leave to intimate that they have acquired the lease and plant of Wardie Brick and Tile Works near Granton, held and carried on for several years past by Mr Henry Struthers and that the business will in future be carried on in all its branches under the firm of R Bruce & Company, brick and tile works, Wardie, near Edinburgh. March 1855.
With reference to the above intimation and formation of copartnery, Robert Bruce begs respectfully to intimate that he is carrying on, as formerly, the business of bricklayer and furnace builder and that orders sent to his place of business, 23 Union Place, Edinburgh or Waldie will be punctually and carefully attended to. R.B. would also take this opportunity of thanking his friends and the public for the liberal support they have bestowed upon him for the last 25 years and he hopes by strict attention and integrity to merit a continuance of the same.
1861 – Robert Bruce, Brick and Tile Makers, Wardie, Granton.
1862 – This entry makes it quite clear that the Robert Bruce of Wardie Brickworks is the same Robert Bruce of Union Place.
1863 – After what was presumably the demise of Wardie Brickworks, Robert is involved with Bridgehouse Brickworks.
1863 – 1864 – Robert Bruce, brick layer and furnace builder, Hope Crescent, Edinburgh – Brick and Tile Maker, Bridgehouse, Bathgate. House 23 Union Place.
1864 – Robert Bruce & Son, Bridgehouse Brick and Tile Works. Depot Haymarket Station, Edinburgh.
1867 – Robert Bruce & Son, – Brick and Tile maker, Hope Crescent, Leith Walk Edinburgh.
1941 – Robert Bruce & So Ltd, masons, bricklayers, furnace builders and contractors, 45 York Place. Yard 39 Albert Street, Edinburgh.
23/10/1850 – NRS SC39/8/27 – Henry Stevenson, fire brick maker in Duke St, Leith involved in a legal case with Henry Struthers, Wardie Brickworks. 1852 – Henry Stevenson – Brick and tile makers. French burr-millstone and fire brick works, 25 Duke Street, Leith, Edinburgh.
Found by Ian Suddaby in the Edinburgh area. This example is not in my possession. Robert Bruce, Wardie Brick and Tile Works, Wardie, Edinburgh. . . . Below – Another example also found in the Edinburgh area by Ian Suddaby.
(Note – SBH – There appears to be conflicting information regarding the locations of the Darngavil, Craigriggs and Westfield Brickworks and information relating to each. If anyone can clarify or notices any mistakes then please get in touch). (Note – SBH – Please read this page in conjunction with the Bridgehouse Brick and Tile Works,…
Canmore At Portobello, close to the mouth of the Braid Burn (Figgate Burn), brick clay has been worked since 1765. The oldest pits have long been abandoned. Not far from their sites others have been opened from time to time, worked for a time and then closed. These pits are all grouped together within an…
(Note – SBH – Please read this in conjunction with the Darngavil Brickworks, Torphicen as they may well all have been situated on the same site and known by the various names) 09/04/1861 – Dunfermline Press – Scotch bankrupts – William Arthur, brickmaker at Bridgehouse Brickwork and residing at Bridgehouse Cottages in the Parish of Torphichen…
Annals of Duddingston and Portobello – 1898 – The trade of Portobello has for the past hundred years been of a varied character. As we have already indicated in these pages, its principal and earliest products were derived from the excellent bed of clay found in the estuary of the Figgate Burn. Bricks and tiles, and…
. . . . . Below – The Village of Figget (Portobello) 1783. 1898 – William Baird’s Annals of Duddingston & Portobello – … About the year 1763, a new settlement began to be formed in the parish at the mouth of the Figgate Burn, consequent upon the finding of a valuable bed of clay,…
Found in Jedburgh, Scottish Border. George Ingram, Westbank Brick and Tile Works, Portobello. . . . . Below – The same stamp on a red clay example found by Ian Suddaby in Leith, Edinburgh. The frog is slightly narrower too.
