Books:
Clay, the key raw material in the manufacture of bricks and tiles was worked throughout the parish in the 19th and 20th centuries. Donald McIver [1] identifies the major sources of clay at Wellhill and Benston; between Whitehill Farm and Dalricket Mill; and in the upper reaches of the Garepool Burn. To these we can add the clay pit at Clayslaps near the Hall of Mansfield, possibly one of the earliest workings and the clay deposit near Straid farm.
Tiles: Landowners of the 19th century were eager to improve the quality of their land in this upland parish and as such drainage tiles were in high demand , in the same way that lime was in high demand as a source of fertiliser to improve the quality of their soil. It is perhaps therefore no surprise to find tile works and lime-kilns in close vicinity to one another. Roofing tiles were also produced.
Bricks: Colliery owners required to attract miners and their families to work the New Cumnock coalfield in the late 19th and 20th centuries and as such required to provide the necessary housing, which in turn created a demand for bricks. Not suprisingly the Brick Works of New Cumnock have strong associations with the collieries.
The Brick and Tile Works of New Cumnock have all gone, some of them surviving until the 1960's and some leaving their mark on the landscape and others less so. However, fireclay deposits are still worked, most notably, at the Greenburn Opencast coal-mine, to supply the Scottish Brick Industry, which now comprises 4 major companies based in the Central Belt, with a capacity of producing 125 million bricks per year.
WORK
Brick and Tile Works
Ruins of Afton Terra-cotta Works
Pages
Sources
[1] Donald McIver, 'A Stroll through the Historic Past of New Cumnock', 2000
[2] Adam B. Todd 'The Poetical Works of A.B. Todd', 1906
[3] National Library of Scotland/ Maps
[4] Valuation Rolls of the Parish of New Cumnock (Baird Institute, Cumnock)
[5] John R. Hume 'The Industrial Archaelogy of Scotland, Vol. 1,1976
[6]
J.L.Carvel 'The New Cumnock Coalfield', 1946
[7] Scottish Mining Website @ www.scottishmining.co.uk
[8] Peak District Mines Historical Society Ltd. @ www.pdmhs.com
[9] George Sanderson 'New Cumnock Long Ago and Faraway'
[10] George Sanderson 'New Cumnock Far and Away', 1992
[11] Donald McIver 'Old New Cumnock', 1997
[12] New Cumnock School-Fellows Annual Magazine, 1898
[13] Guthrie Hutton 'Mining, Ayrshire's Lost Industry', 1996
Acknowledgements
Mr. Young, Straid Farm
Mr. Crawford, Hall of Mansfield Farm
Copyright
All text and images copyright of Robert Guthrie, unless otherwise stated.
