SMR 616 / NS 925 769
The first brickworks to bear the name of “Craigend” were actually in the Lands of Hirst, some distance to the north of the main estate of Craigend. They lay on the south side of the Gardrum Burn some 800m to the west of Rumford. The site was at the west end of the great coal road built shortly after 1800 by the owners of Parkhall estate and probably utilised the clay in the old bings from a colliery which previously occupied the site. A large clay pit was then dug immediately to the west of the works.
The works were on Craigend estate and when first operated they seem to have been in the hands of a manager on behalf of the estate’s owner, John Livingstone Learmonth McKenzie. The brickworks were founded some time before 1848 when a pressure steam engine was put up for sale there by J Thomas Reid, the manager of the Craigend Brick and Tile Works. By then they were well established and were manufacturing “highly-finished and very ornamental Vases of various sizes” (Falkirk Herald 11 October 1849, 3).
In 1851 they were put up for let:
“CRAIGEND BRICK AND TILE WORKS. To be Let for such period of Years as may be agreed upon, the well-known BRICK and TILE WORKS at CRAIGEND. The Seams of Fire and Common Clays are extensive and of first-rate quality. The whole being in excellent going order, with a good demand, offer a most favourable entry to a tenant. Apply at Craigend Brick and Tile Works, by Polmont”
(Falkirk Herald 11 September 1851, 1).
They were leased to J. & J. Dougal for 19 years.
The Craigend Brick and Tile Work was put on sale in 1862, at which time the rent for it was £157 10s. It came with 12 acres of land, and the dwelling-house occupied by the tenant of the work, four workmen’s houses, a six-stalled stable, a grain-house, and an office. The machinery was part of the sale and included a steam-engine of about 25 horse-power for grinding and manufacturing fire and common clays. The initial upset price was put at £3000, though when no purchasers came forward this was reduced. It was stated that “the articles manufactured at this Work are in high repute throughout the country.”
J. & J. Dougal’s lease came to an end at Martinmas 1870 and the company decided not to renew it. In consequence of the termination of their lease the four draught horses, one pony, four close-bodied carts, and four sets of harness were sold off (FH 17 November 1870, 4). The works were taken over by J. & T. Hay who began to manufacture salt-glazed pipes, agricultural drain pipes, chimney cans, vent linings, pavement, composition bricks, and fire bricks, as well as tiles.
The second lease ended after a further 19 years at Martinmas 1889 and once again the works were put up to let. It is doubtful whether another tenant was found and the 1895 Ordnance Survey map shows them as disused and the main structures roofless. By 1907 the works were not only derelict but it had become the custom of the locals to quarry the buildings for bricks. When David Stewart, a dairyman, residing near Polmont, needed some bricks he was advised by neighbours to take some of the old bricks from the disused brick works as they often did. He was caught and prosecuted. At the time the works belonged to Miss Jeanie G. White of Leven (Falkirk Herald 27 July 1907, 8).
NEWSPAPERS
- Glasgow Examiner, 5 February 1848, 2:
On Friday a serious accident happened at Craigend Brick-work, the property of Learmonth M’Kenzie, Esq. A woman of the name of Ann Taylor, who for some time has been engaged at the Brick-work, was sent to the engine house on the above day for a paint pot, and whilst in the act of lifting the pot, her clothes were caught by the machinery of the engine, and her right leg was, in consequence, frightfully torn by the teeth of the machinery. She was otherwise severely injured, and had it not been for the activity displayed by Mr M’Kenzie junior in stopping the engine, the poor girl must have been shivered to pieces. She is, however, in a very dangerous state. - Falkirk Herald, 14 September 1848, 1:
Pressure STEAM ENGINE for Sale, with Boiler and Iron Chimney, in good working order.—Apply at the Works. J THOMAS REID, Manager. Craigend Brick and Tile Works, Near Polmont, by Falkirk, 8th Sept., 1848. - National Advertiser & Edinburgh & Glasgow Gazette, 30 September 1848, 2:
Drain pipe and Tile – The Subscriber is prepared to supply any quantity of the above on advantageous terms. Apply to JAMES CRAWFORD, Agent for the Craigend Brick and Tile Works. Edinburgh, 12, Port Hopetoun, Sept. 22, 1848. - Glasgow Herald, 4 June 1849, 3:
John Allison, manager, Craigend Brick and Tile Works, by Linlithgow. - Falkirk Herald, 11 October 1849, 3:
Falkirk Horticultural show – For exhibition, a number of highly-finished and very ornamental Vases of various sizes, manufactured at the works of J. L. Learmonth Mackenzie, Esq. of Craigend… - Scotsman, 8 June 1850, 3:
To Builders and Others. The Subscriber is prepared to supply upon very favourable terms, every article in the FIRE BRICK line. He would call particular attention to the CHIMNEY CAN Department, which offers peculiar advantages. Also, he supplies, COMPOSITION BRICK (square or circular), which have been lately introduced into the Edinburgh market, and found to be the only article fitted to resist the action of the weather, and likewise standing powerful heat; serving in many instances where fire brick would otherwise be required, and the the additional recommendation of being very little higher in price than common brick. Apply to James Crawford, Agent for the Craigend Brick and Tile Works, 12 & 14 Port Hopetoun, Edinburgh. - Falkirk Herald, 11 September 1851, 1:
CRAIGEND BRICK AND TILE WORKS. To be Let for such period of Years as may be agreed upon, the well-known BRICK and TILE WORKS at CRAIGEND. The Seams of Fire and Common Clays are extensive and of first-rate quality. The whole being in excellent going order, with a good demand, offer a most favourable entry to a tenant. Apply at Craigend Brick and Tile Works, by Polmont. - Caledonian Mercury, 11 December 1856, 1:
NOTICE. J & J. DOUGAL Pay their men their Wages DAILY, if required. Craigend Brick and Tile Works, 9th December, 1856. - Caledonian Mercury, 12 November 1859, 1:
TO BUILDERS AND OTHERS. PETER FERGUSON, AGENT FOR CRAIGEND BRICK WORK, depot – 69 FOUNTAINBRIDGE, Edinburgh, Has always on hand a large Stock of ROOFING TILES and BRICK of all kinds, at the following prices… - Falkirk Herald, 29 May 1862, 4:
LANDS in the Parish of Muiravonside and county of Stirling, and a BRICK AND TILE WORK for sale. There will be sold by Public Roup, in one or more Lots (if not previously disposed of by private bargain. Within Messrs Cat & Black’s Rooms, 65 George Street, Edinburgh, on Wednesday the 9th day of July 1862 ay two o’clock afternoon, The LANDS of GREENWELLS, HIRST, CROY, GLENHEAD, GLENEND, and parts of MANUELRIG and MOSS-CANDLE forming the unentailed parts of the Estate of CRAIGEND, lying in the Parish of Muiravonside, and County of Stirling. Nearly the whole of the lands are under cultivation, and are let to respectable tenants, and a portion of the property is well adapted for feuing, being beautifully situated, and a short distance of the Polmont Station of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway. The farm steadings are in excellent condition, and are ample and commodious, and there are several cottars’ and farm labourers’ houses on the land.- The rental of the lands is £261 5sm and the public burdens are very moderate, but a considerable increase if rent may be obtained on the expiry of the existing leases, one of which expires in Martinmas next.
- And also a BRICK AND TILE WORK on the Lands of Hirst, called CRAIGEND BRICK AND TILE WORK, which, with a portion of land, containing both fireclay and common clay of the first quality, will be sold separately. The work is let on lease at present, and the Rent is £157 10s.
- The Property will be shown on application to Mr Learmonth M’Kenzie, the proprietor, at Craigend House and further particulars may be obtained from Messrs Russel & Aitken, Writers, Falkirk or from Messrs Gibson-Craig…
- Falkirk Herald, 26 June 1862, 4:
There will be exposed for sale by public roup (if not previously disposed of by private bargain) within Messrs Cay & Black’s Rooms, 65 George Street, Edinburgh, on the 9th day of July, 1862, at 2 o’clock afternoon. THE CRAIGEND BRICK and TILE WORK, situated on the Lands of Hirst, the Parish of Muiravonside, and County of Stirling, with upwards of 12 Acres of land, and with the dwelling-house occupied by the present tenant of the work, four workmen’s houses, a six-stalled stable, grain-house, and office, &c; and also all the machinery requisite (including a steam-engine of about 25 horse-power) for grinding and manufacturing fire and common clays. Upset price, £3000.- The Land contains both fire and common clay of the first quality, and the clay is nearly inexhaustible. The Work is at present let to good tenants at the rent of £156. The lease expires at Martinmas 1870, when a considerable increase of rent may be obtained, as the articles manufactured at this Work are in high repute throughout the country. The rent of the land is about £4 10s…
- Edinburgh Evening News, 24 October 1862, 2: Sale of Craigend Tile Works. —We understand that the Craigend Brick and Tile Work, in the parish of Muiravonside, which was exposed to sale within Messrs Cay & Black’s rooms on Wednesday, was disposed of for £2000.
- Glasgow Herald, 25 May 1870, 3:
CRAIGEND BRICK AND TILE WORK. To LET, at Martinmas next, for 19 Years, or such Term as may be agreed on, these well-known and Extensive WORKS, situated in the vicinity of Polmont Junction Station, and of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Canal, with the MACHINERY, KILNS, &c, thereon, all as occupied by Messrs Dougall. The seams of common, composition, and fire-clay which underlie each other are at the works. One of the Redding Colliery Pits is beside the Works, and their railway passes through them. The materials made are greatly esteemed in the market, and a large and profitable business has long been carried on at the Works… - Falkirk Herald, 17 November 1870, 4: … Mr Neilson begs to give notice that he has been instructed by Messrs J. & J. Dougal, in consequence of the termination of their lease of Craigend Brick and Tile Work, to Sell by Public Roup, at the Crown Inn, Falkirk, on Thursday the 17th November, 1870, the Horses, carts, and harness withdrawn from the Works, comprising-
- 4 capital draught horses, well accustomed to all kinds of hard work.
- 1 harness pony.
- 4 close-bodied carts, with wheels & axles, and,
- 4 sets of horse harness.
- Falkirk Herald, 30 March 1871, 1:
Craigend Brickworks, near Falkirk. Notice to Builders, Contractors, &c. Salt glazed pipes, agricultural drain pipes, chimney cans, vent linings, pavement, composition bricks, fire bricks, & c.- Messrs J. & T. Hay having taken a lease of the above well-known brickworks, hope that by manufacturing a good article, moderate charges, and strict attention to business, to merit a liberal share of public patronage.
- Scotsman, 12 June 1876, 6 :
John Hay living at Craigend Brick Works. - Portobello Advertiser, 16 June 1883, 2:
Alexander Scott, salesman at the Abercorn Brick Works, Portobello (Messrs Thomas Thornton & Sons) left to become manager of the Craigend Brick Works, Polmont. - Falkirk Herald, 6 November 1889, 1:
TO LET, Craigend Brick Work (well-known), near Polmont Station. - Falkirk Herald, 27 July 1907, 8:
BRICKS.—David Stewart, dairyman, residing near Polmont, pleaded guilty stealing number old bricks from the disused brick works Craigend, Muiravonside, belonging to Miss Jeanie G. White, Leven.
Falkirk Local History Society 