Some photos of it on ''Britain from Above'' image SPW0505827.
1878 – R Brown & Son, Firebrick manufacturers, 158 Eglington Street, Glasgow
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Ferguslie Fire-Clay Works. These extensive works were established in 1839, and are carried on by Messrs. Robert Brown and Son. The productions are mainly chimney shafts in great variety and of good design, sewage pipes and sanitary goods of all kinds, garden vases and tazzae, flower boxes, suspenders, fern and flower stands, &c. of various designs ; statuary, both single figures and groups, architectural enrichments, pedestals, brackets, garden edgings, fire and other bricks and tiles, copings, finials, &c. Shortroods and Caledonia Works. These are brick and tile works connected with the Ferguslie Works of Messrs. Robert Brown and Co. Paisley Earthenware Works. Messrs. Robert Brown and Co.established these works in 1876, and at them produce white enamelled earthenware goods of a similar quality to those of Staffordshire. Their principal productions are cabinet stands and lavatories of every requisite shape both for domestic and shop fittings, plug basins, pans, and other sanitary appliances, baths of every kind (a speciality being the larger baths, five feet six inches in length, a size rarely attempted in earthenware), washing tubs, sinks, &c., plumber’s fittings, wash hand-table tops, with and without toilet ware, plain and coloured pavement and wall tiles, &c. Crown Works. At the Crown Crucible Works, belonging to Messrs. Robert Brown and Son, plumbago crucibles and kindred goods are manufactured. The marks are a crown and name, BROWN PAISLEY, and a crucible within an oval border surmounted by a crown.
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1882 – Robert Brown & Son, Fergusl;ie Fire Clay Works, Paisley. Office Abercorn Bridge
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1896 – 1897 – Brown, Robert, & Son, Ferguslie Fireclay Works, Paisley, manufacturers of specially glazed fireclay pipes and traps, sinks and washing tubs in white enamel, superior brown glaze, double dipped vitrified and fine yellow glaze, with enamelled supports or pedestals for same, white and coloured enamel bricks of superior lustre and finish, doable dipped vitrified bricks, and all articles made of fireclay of the most superior quality and finish ; Glasgow depot and office, 360 Eglinton St. ; Telegraphic address, ” Shortroods,” Glasgow ; telephone No. 3498.
Brown, Robert, & Son, the Paisley Sanitary Earthen- ware Works, Paisley, manufacturers of sanitary and plumbers’ earthenware of every description, including cabinet-stands, lavatories, plug basins, baths, urinals, sinks, wash-down and wash-out closets in ordinary style and pedestal form, all of the most improved and recent designs, and of the finest quality ; also, glazed earthenware wall tiles in all sizes and colours, coloured enamelled tiles, and patent glazed earthenware tiles for ceilings ; Glasgow depot and office, 360 Eglinton street’ Telegraphic address, ” Shortroods,” Glasgow ; telephone No. 3498.
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Asscociated Clay Industries, makers of sanitaryware formed in 1926. By 1936 they own W.R.Pickup, John Crankshaw Co and Robert Brown & Son.
30/07/1936 – Glasgow Herald – article on Associated Clay Industries Ltd and the progress of constituent businesses…..In December 1934 we bought the business of Robert Brown & Son Ltd of Paisley and during the 18 months we have had this business under our control we have made the necessary alterations in the works and been able to improve production and restore the good name which used always to be attached to this firm for sanitaryware earthenware.
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April 1959 – New Owners for Scots Works
William Baird & Co. Ltd. of Glasgow, have acquired through their subsidiary J & R Howie Ltd., Hurlford Clayworks, Kilmarnock, the Ferguslie Works at Paisley of Association Clay Industries Ltd. J & R Howie will carry on manufacture of vitreous China and earthenware sanitary products at the Ferguslie works as well as maintaining their own Kilmarnock plant.
Associated Clay Industries Ltd took over the older Ferguslie works which were founded in 1836 as “Brown’s Brickworks” after the name of the founder Mr. Robert Brown.
Since they took over in 1934. Associated Clay Industries have done a considerable amount of improvement work at Ferguslie and modernised considerably in 1947. Modernisation of their four other plants was also needed but because of restricted trading and lack of prospects new capital was not raised and in September of last year a receiver was appointed.
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24/03/1971 – The Glasgow Herald – Paisley loses a landmark – Paisley lost a landmark yesterday when the oldest industrial chimney in the town was demolished. The demolition of the chimney at Browns Brickworks on the south side of the main road between Paisley and Elderslie, was carried out by the steeplejack firm of Redmond Bros who used explosives to bring it down. The chimney built in 1837 was originally 286 feet high but over the years the height was reduced. Latterly it had become a danger. The site is now used by industrial and commercial concerns.
Hope this helps, I used to live there as my Dad worked there too.
Ewen Anderson
