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Messrs G.H. Ramsay and Co, Fire Brick Works
The founder of this business, Mr G Heppell, first established his brickworks at Derwenthaugh. Expansion plans were put in hand and the largest brickworks in the area were built, capable of completing 7 million bricks per annum. Clay used in the making of the bricks was transported from the colliery which was about 300 yards away.
Comments
Does anyone have an example of a Ramsay brick? I would like to purchase one.
Posted by: J.R.Cameron at February 3, 2007 10:45 AM
Please see our e-mail reply.
Posted by: Whickham Web Wanderers at February 4, 2007 12:59 PM
I have in my pocession 9 ramsay bricks in a good state and various broken... they were discoovered in Menorca recently.
I am searching information as to how they found their way to the island
Regards
Sue Davies
Posted by: sue davies at February 11, 2007 4:42 PM
I have read that the Ramsay bricks were used as ballast in ships built in the North East. There is an example of one prominently displayed at the Naval Museum in Sevastopol in the Ukraine. Presumably from a ship sunk during the Crimean War.
Posted by: JRCameron at February 12, 2007 8:33 AM
I found one and a quarter bricks unused in a creek bed in Tasmania near the convict settlement at Port Arthur. Would anyone know their value please?
regards john
Posted by: john at May 13, 2007 11:45 AM
If you care to view our web site www.islahospitalmenorca.org and view "fotos fechas" and click on year 2007 and view the fotos dated 25.03.07- you will see the ramsays we have collected from the island.... presumably used as ship ballasting or for the chimneys.
Posted by: sue davies at May 15, 2007 5:05 PM
Thanks for your comment but couldn't see the link on the website, 'fotos fechas' to find the photos you mention.
Posted by: Whickham Web Wanderers at May 18, 2007 3:50 PM
I was recently digging a new garden at the end of Yonge St.{ next to Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, Kingston,Ont.} when I came across most of a 'RAMSAY' brick. Apparently there was a brewery there at some point which is supported by the evidence of large amounts of broken bottles found there.
Posted by: Skye Sorensen at June 6, 2007 11:20 PM
When I was renovating an old house in the south of Poland built by my grandfather I found some RAMSAY bricks from a store. For me this an important family
souvenir and I would like to know the story of how these bricks come to this region of Poland.
Regards
Piotr Milek
Posted by: Piotr Milek at July 2, 2007 7:59 PM
Today I went to work with my dad and we had a little archaeological investigation at the ruins of a hammer forge at Nes Iron Works Museum, Norway. We found several broken Ramsay firebricks, probably from one of the furnaces. The forge was in use from the 1700's to 1917. It was lots of fun.
Posted by: Daniel Reed at September 16, 2007 7:49 PM
Thanks for your comment. Ramsay's firebricks are found in many places.
Posted by: Whickham Web Wanderers at September 16, 2007 9:14 PM