Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry

Williamwood Brick and Tile Works, Clarkston, Busby, Glasgow.

Canmore

Mr and Mrs Yuille owned the Brick and Tile Works in Clarkston in the 19th century, a small, local industry in a largely industrial area, now the site of Williamwood High School. Redhurst House was built in 1895 of local Giffnock brick by Mr & Mrs Yuille. Mr Yuille built a house called Redhurst which was unusual for its time because it was not built of sandstone, but of shiny bricks and tiles. It has been described by a great-niece of Mrs Yuille as like a doll’s house. (Note – SBH – I am unaware of the dates that Mr and Mrs Yuille may have worked the brickwork).

01/05/1886 – Invoice – Williamwood Brick and Tile Works, Cathcart, Busby, Glasgow.  Baird and Woodburn. The invoice details product list as 2″, 2½”, 3″, 4″, 5″, 6″ and bricks.

02/05/1887 – Williamwood Brick and Tile Works, Busby, Glasgow.  Baird and Woodburn. The invoice details product list as 2″, 2½”, 3″, 4″, 5″, 6″ and bricks.

30/05/1892 – Paisley Daily Express – Interesting decision as to market prices. Sheriff Cowan has given his decision in an action raised by James Baird, Blackwood Brick and Tile Works, Lesmahagow against Peter Brown, brick and tile manufacturer, Paisley in which the question of market prices raised. The defender contracted to take the total output of drain pipes and tiles from the pursuers’ works and the contract provided that should any advance take place in the price of drain pipes or tiles the pursuer should participate in the same proportionately. The pursuer averred that a general advance took place on 1st May 1890 and claimed the whole of the advance, while the defender denied such and pleaded that the action was irrelevant in respect that the pursuer was only to participate in any advance proportionately. Sheriff Cowan upheld the defender’s plea and dismissed the case as irrelevant with expenses in respect that the market prices at the date the agreement must be averred in order to find out any proportion due. The pursuer appealed to the Sheriff-Principal who dismissed the appeal with additional expenses to the defender. The pursuer thereupon raised another case averring market prices and claiming the sum of £425 14s 11d as the proportion due under the contract. Sheriff Cowan has issued his judgment in which he assoilzies the defender from the conclusions of the libel and finds him entitled to expenses.

Below – 1893  – Advert Peter Brown Walkinshaw, Corsehill and Williamwood, Gledstane.

1893 – 1894 – Peter Brown, manufacturer of bricks, pipe and tiles for field drainage – Works Walkinshaw by Paisley, Corsehill by Kilmarnock and Williamwood by Busby. Office 12 High Street, Paisley. House Gledstane, Bishopton.

07/08/1893 – Glasgow Herald – Going Tile and Brick Works to let – The tile and brick works and relative buildings, part of the farm of Drumby on the Estate of Williamwood, in the Parish of Cathcart, Renfrewshire, all as presently possessed by Mr Peter Brown, will be let for such period as may be agreed upon with entry at Whitsunday 1894. The works are within 6 miles from Glasgow by road and are in the immediate vicinity of Clarkston Station, Busby Railway. The clay is of well known and proven quality: the cost of working is low and a trade has been established for many years. The permanent plant and machinery is to be taken over by the tenant at a valuation and includes the kilns, sufficient drying sheds, boilers and engines ????? and mixing machinery and haulage apparatus, buildings and odd sheds including chimney stalk, smith, office &c. tile burners cottage ?????

Below – 1896 – Williamwood Tile Works.

02/07/1896 – Invoice – Peter Brown, brick, drain pipe and tile works, Corsehill by Kilmarnock and Walkinshaw by Paisley and Williamwood by Busby. Office is detailed as 12 High Street, Paisley but this has been scored out and Williamwood Brick and Tile Works written in instead. TA ‘Gledstane’ Paisley.

25/10/1897 – Greenock Telegraph – P. Brown, Bishopton was among a large number of guests who attended by invitation Garvel Park, Glasgow to watch machinery at work at the James Watt Dock of Greenock.

23/03/1900 – Edinburgh Gazette – The Firm of Peter Brown and Company, Brick and Tile Manufacturers, Williamwood, near Glasgow, of which the Subscribers were sole partners, has been dissolved, as at 30th September 1899, by the retiral therefrom of James Anderson Gilmour. The business of the said firm will be carried on under the old name by the subscriber Peter Brown, who will pay all debts due by, and receive all debts due to, the said firm. Kilmarnock, 30th December 1899. Peter Brown and Jas. A. Gilmour. (Note – SBH – This may well be the same James Gilmour that was associated with the Geilston Brick and Tile Works or perhaps father and son).

1901 – Records of Shirlaw Allan, Industrial auctioneers, Hamilton, Scotland. For sale – Tile and brick making machinery at Williamwood Works, Busby.

Below – 1910 – Williamwood Tileworks.

Below – 1938 – Williamwood Tileworks.

Below – This portrait of Mrs Yuille is thought to have been painted by the Scottish artist, Thomas L. Ritchie, who worked in both Glasgow and Edinburgh and exhibited regularly at the Royal Scottish Academy from 1850 – 1875.