david12345 Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 I was having a conversation with my uncle at Christmas where he was recalling his brief time at the Douglas Firebrick Factory in Dalry Ayrshire. One of the jobs where everyone seemed to vanish, was the unloading of China Clay from small mineral wagons and frequently the tarpaulins would have became loose with the China Clay becoming a sludge with the rain. I was wondering if anybody on here had any ideas where this load originated, Cornwall presumably, and if any body had any more information or photographs? Many thanks David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
souwest Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Hi, No photos but there seemed to be a lucrative trade from Cornwall, south coast at Fowey and north coast at Bideford as well as Poole in Dorset in clay - ball and pipe clay. Not being an expert in clays I dont know if this is right. The fireclay was mided at the nearby Redcastle fireclay mine. I recall rattling past the Douglas works on dmu's from Largs in the 1970s and 80s and speculating about the factory site. Dalry station was still a proper station with covered sloping footbridge and a few sidings. Many's the time I had to change at Dalry on a Sunday as the Largs units terminated there, to join a Swindon unit to Glasgow. Good luck with your research. Souwest Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david12345 Posted January 3, 2015 Author Share Posted January 3, 2015 Thanks Souwest. The fire clay seemed to come from across the road and travel to the works in small wagons. Will need to try a different avenue of research. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium keefer Posted January 24, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 24, 2015 had a quick look at RCHAMS - online pics not maybe much help, more historical online images: http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/223222/details/dalry+douglas+fireclay+works/ other images held: http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/223222/photographs/dalry+douglas+fireclay+works/?show=all but i think some of those are shown here: http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/record/rcahms/151621/dalry-douglas-fireclay-works-mine/rcahms?item=455042 some info here: http://www.scottishbrickhistory.co.uk/douglas-firebrick-company-dalry/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david12345 Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 Thanks Keefer. That is fantastic. I'll have a good look through that tonight. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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