The Roman occupation of Scotland in first century AD brought brick-making skills to the Scots. Before the industrial revolution all bricks in Scotland were moulded by hand, a long process which began with the excavation of clay in autumn and ended the following summer when the bricks were fired in small kilns. One of the first industrial buildings to be built from bricks in Scotland was Stanley Mills in Perthshire, followed shortly after by numerous cotton mills in Glasgow.
The Scottish Brick History website is a growing index of brickmarks, the distinct markings that identify where bricks were produced. These unique marks tell us enriching stories not only about the brick makers, but of the high quality workmanship that went into the design of older buildings, from architects to construction. Selecting the right bricks was a crucial part of the buileint process because poorly made bricks cost more money in the long term when factoring in repairs and replacements.
Beautiful, high quality Scottish bricks surround us everywhere we go in Scotland, but many can also be found in buildings all over the world. An example is St. Judes Church in South America, which is constructed from Patent Wilson & Son bricks manufactured in Glasgow. Scottish bricks have even been found in California, New Orleans, Israel, New Zealand, Madagascar, Tasmania, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Russia.
The Scottish Brick History is a hobby website that has become a marvelous affirmation of Scotland’s significant and purposeful contribution to a shared world history.
