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Darnley Fireclay Mine

Darnley Park, Nitshill, Glasgow, Renfrewshire.

Mine (fireclay, and coal?), Quarry.

The mine and workings (which processed both fireclay and limestone from other local quarries) was also known over the years as the Upper Darnley Fireclay Mine, Darnley Lime Works, and Arden Lime Works. Fireclay was found in the area in seams up to eight feet thick below the limestone. This was worked at various times, particularly around 1900. The large fireclay kilns made bricks, pipes and sanitary products.

The site has been infilled and is now a grassy field on the E side of Corselet Rd, NE of the main carpark for Darnley Country Park.

Alternate Names: Upper Darnley Fireclay Mine, Darnley Lime Works, Arden Lime Works

Notes: 1851 - William McLintock, Lochinch, Pollockshaws- Arden Lime from The Darnley Works

23/04/1858 - Edinburgh Gazette - Kirkwood brickmaker Anniesland

1868 - Darnley Lime Works, Hurlet, Glasgow - Allan Kirkwood

1882 - 1885 - Darnley Lime Works, Hurlet, Glasgow - Allan Kirkwood

1886 - Arden Lime Works, Barrhead

1886 - 1889 - Darnley Lime Works, Hurlet, Glasgow - Allan Kirkwood

04/10/1892 - Edinburgh Gazette - Allan Kirkwood Jun takes over the family business following the death of his father on 22/09/1889

1896 - Allan Kirkwood - Firebrick Maker, Arden Lime and Fire Clay Works, Nitshill

1896 - Advert Arden Lime Works, Nitshill

1905 - 1906 - Allan Kirkwood Ltd - Darnley Fireclay Works, Nitshill near Glasgow. Glasgow Office - 67 Great Clyde Street. Store- 101 Pollokshaws Road. Telephone no. Corp 2455, Nat 3458. Telegrams - Kirkwood, Nitshill

23/03/1910 - Quebec Daily Telegraph - Kirkwood, Kirkwood bricks - Having still in the cars some 10,000 of these celebrated fire brick, before we unload them, we will sell at a low price, to be taken ex cars. This is the balance of the lot furnished for the Dominion Fish Co's cold storage building. Let us know on the 24th what you need out of this lot. U.F Drouin & Co, Contractors and plumber's supplies, Office 161 St Paul Street. Phone 3491. (Info supplied by Stephen Cann, Canada - this may well relate to the Kirkwood Darnley Brick Works.)

1912 - 1913 - Allan Kirkwood Ltd - Darnley Fireclay Works, Nitshill. Office 67 Great Clyde Street. Works 101 Pollokshaws Road. Telegraphic Kirkwood Nitshill (p.203)

1915 - (Glasgow Herald 8th Feb 1915) "Information has been received that Private Matthew Kirkwood , of the 1st Battalion London Scottish, was killed in action on January 25. He was a son of the late Allan Kirkwood, Arden Lime Works, Darnley, Nitshill. He was educated in the High School and technical college, Glasgow, and was for several years a prominent figure in Rugby Football. He played in the High School, Partickhill, and technical college teams. A student of conspicuous ability, he was twice awarded the medal for brewing-chemistry in the city and guilds examinations, London. Prior to joining the London Scottish in August last he was engaged in London as a chemist and brewer. Private Kirkwood, it may be added, has three brothers serving in H.M. forces."

1920 - 1921 - Allan Kirkwood Ltd - Darnley Fireclay Works, Nitshill near Glasgow. Glasgow Office - 67 Great Clyde Street. Store- 101 Pollokshaws Road. Telephone no. 8003 central. Telegrams - Kirkwood, Nitshill

1923 - 1924 - Allan Kirkwood Ltd - Darnley Fireclay Works, Nitshill near Glasgow. Glasgow Office - 67 Great Clyde Street. Store- 101 Pollokshaws Road. Telephone no. Giffnock 409.. Telegrams - Kirkwood, Nitshill

1936 - 1937 - Allan Kirkwood Ltd, Arden Lime Works and Darnley Fireclay Works, Nitshill, Glasgow - Also manufacturers of Creamcast cement, Darnley Hardwall plaster, lime stone chips, poultry grit, asphalt filler, mine dust, crushed silica sand. Glasgow Store 101 Pollokshaws Road.

1938 - 1939 - Arden Lime Works - Allan Kirkwood Ltd, Nitshill. Also J A Kirkwood of Allan Kirkwood Ltd, 7 Marywood Square, Strathbungo and J Ramsay Kirkwood of Allan Kirkwood Ltd, Range Cottage, Nitshill

14/08/1944 - Below - Glasgow Herald 14/08/1944 - obituary Allan Kirkwood.

Given coordinates are for the fireclay quarry that mined the 'Arden Fireclay & Coal' band.

The fireclay pit was connected to the Darnley Limeworks by a mineral railway that had separate branches extending into neighbouring limestone quarries.