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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
I have recently found 9 pristine Ramsay bricks in the cellar of the Commun na Feinne Hotel (an early Gaelic hotel built by the Fingalian Society in Geelong, Victoria, Australia in the 1850's). They were inside what appears to have been an oven. At some stage the building was a bakery. I identified the bricks from the photos on the isla hospital menorca site listed above. Any further info re these bricks would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by: Jason Whitley at July 14, 2009 1:08 PM
At our summer home in English Harbour (founded 1600s), Newfoundland, Canada we found a number of good condition RAMSAY bricks about 10 inches beneath the surface of the ground. We cleaned them up and used them in a step and featured the RAMSAY name prominently in the step. I can provide a photo for anyone interested. Please email at dmarkwells@gmail.com. Our summer home was built in the mid 1860s.
Posted by: wells family at July 14, 2009 1:09 PM
Recently discovered 9 Ramsay bricks in pristine condition in the cellar of the Commun Na Feinne Hotel, Geelong, Victoria, Australia (a Gaelic hotel built by the Fingalian Society in the 1850's). I am the owner and licensee of the hotel, and the bricks were found inside what appears to have been an oven (there is evidence there was once a bakery in the building).
Identity was confirmed by the photo in the Menorca reference above. Anyone with any ideas how the bricks may have got there?
Posted by: Jason Whitley at July 15, 2009 5:33 AM
Re Ramsay bricks in Australia (Jason Whitley). Ramsay bricks were exported to many overseas countries, including Australia. No doubt there are Ramsay's bricks to be found all over the world as they must have made many millions of bricks over the hundred years or so the firm were in operation.
Posted by: Whickham Web Wanderers at July 15, 2009 9:38 AM
I collect hand made bricks mostly Australian and came across a Ramsay brick in Port Arthur. It was used as ballast in an English ship and were crafted in Newcastle, England. if you have a Ramsay brick could you please forward me photo and reference of where it was found.
Posted by: thor at February 7, 2010 10:58 AM
A carpenter friend was doing a remodel in San Francisco CA and uncovered a pristine ramsay fire brick and gave it to me several years ago. My name is George Ramsay.
Posted by: George Ramsay at May 4, 2010 3:42 PM
Ramsay bricks are turning up all over the world George.
Posted by: Whickham Web Wanderers at May 5, 2010 8:35 AM
i brought a ramsay brick up from the heroine wreck off west bay!... interested?
Andy
Posted by: subabob at September 5, 2010 9:45 PM
I have a Ramsay Brick I brought up from a shipwreck just off West Bay southern England. I was intrigued as to what I would discover after a little research......Heroine wreck, west bay
Nice brick :)
Posted by: Andy at September 6, 2010 2:53 PM
Ramsay bricks turn up from all over but that one didn't get very far. Thanks.
Posted by: Whickham Web Wanderers at September 7, 2010 10:10 AM