Photo's of Locharbriggs 1845

[*sparkle*]

I thought I might stick my oar in again

The quarry cottages could refer to several places.
There is a single cottage on Quarry Road just at the head of the old Quarry. It could also refer to the row of cottages on the Edinburgh Road as you leave Locharbriggs (Near the new quarry entrance, and much closer to Akers Avenue)

The road that runs through the quarry (and connects Edinburgh Road and Quarry Road - Ive no idea what it is called) is where the Quarry offices are (newish sandstone building) and I believe they were built on the site of some older buildings, it is possible these could also have been the quarry cottages. If you are close, it may be worth going to the quarry offices and asking if there is someone there who might know...

Sorry for rambling again but hope this helps

My sister lives in Locharbriggs too But I moved out of the area

Tx

[cupcake]

Hi Sparkle,

Thank you for your reply.

Don't worry about rambling on, I am only to pleased to get as much help as I can.

Have been to the Quarry office but, they weren't able to help. Thought they may have had some old photos. However,I didn't realise the quarry was built on some older buildings.

I know there were houses at Jericho bridge where some rellies lived.

Perhaps I will never know where she was born. Has been interesting looking, but one gets to a dead end eventually.

Thanks once again.

Cupcake

[salmonfisher]

Hi Cupcake

So interesting to read that your great grandfather was a quarryman at
the Locharbriggs quarry.   As it happens my grt grt grandfather
whose name was Robert Stewart was born in Locharbriggs in 1819.
His occupation was builder and stonemason, so I reckon he started
off working in the quarry too.

He left Locharbriggs in 1841 to come to Liverpool.   The local stone of
Liverpool is red sandstone, as is Locharbriggs, so I guess he was
at home in Liverpool. 

Later, in the early 1900s his son Robert Douglas Affleck Stewart,
worked as a stonemason on the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral ...
yes red sandstone again!!

Strangely enough, both myself and a cousin live in old  property
built of red sandstone.   Must be in the blood!!

Just noticed that your email is about 4 years old ... I am new to Roots Chat.
Hope you managed to get some photos!!

Best wishes

Elaine
 

[cupcake]

Hi Elaine,

Thank you for you contacting me after four years. Interesting to hear your G G Grandfather Robert Stewart was born in Locharbriggs 1819.

The Locharbriggs sandstone is well travelled. Imagine he would feel at home in Liverpool. The Statue of Liberty was also built with our local sandstone. I beeive the sandstone has been used world wide.

Sadly, I haven't been able to get any photographs of the quarry.

Kind regards,

cupcake

Merry Christmas

[salmonfisher]

Hi Cupcake

Thanks for your reply, and info re the Statue of Liberty, an interesting piece of info to add to my notes.

Best wishes and Happy Xmas

Elaine

[DGFHS-vol]

Hi Elaine,
While not wanting to create 'stoochie' over the provenance of the Statue of Liberty -- don't be too ready to write your notes up without a few further checks.
The Statue of Liberty, which is made of metal -- copper skin over a steel armature framework, was a gift from the people of France.
The pedestal was originally designed to be made of granite but that proved too costly and was poured in concrete.  Had it been granite our main local source in Dumfries and Galloway is the Dalbeattie quarries in Kirkcudbrightshire not Dumfriesshire. 
There were many other local sources of sandstone in Dumfriesshire other than Locharbriggs. There were quarries near Thornhill, Lochmaben and Georgetown to name just three other locations.  I don't know anything about the sources for red sandstone used in the building of Liverpool.  Local stone was certainly exported widely -- incidentally a lot of the granite used in the construction of Liverpool docks came from Dalbeattie.
To conclude I would add that there is a major difference in the skilled trades of quarryman and stone mason.  Photo #01 shows the work of quarrymen at Locharbriggs today and #2-4 show stone masons' work in the past on some Dumfries town buildings.
Cheers
Sy

[DGFHS-vol]

From our DGFHS photo archive
Stone processing photos at Locharbriggs taken about 14 years ago.
I don't suppose the process has changed much in the past 200 years.
The power driving the saws was probably steam power rather than electricity.
(This new interface is going to take a bit of getting used to !)