View looking South East at outlet end of four autoclaves.
B 10009/2
Description View looking South East at outlet end of four autoclaves.
Date 17/8/1981
Collection Records of the Scottish Industrial Archaeology Survey at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Sco
Catalogue Number B 10009/2
Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images
Copies SC 730047
Scope and Content Autoclaves, Kirkforthar Brick Works, Fife The Kirkforthar Brick Works was owned by the Kirkforthar Brick Co Ltd, and was formed in 1965. The raw materials used were local sand from Ladybank, and lime which was brought in from Yorkshire as local lime was not suitable for mixing with local sand. 500kgs of sand were blended with 35kgs of lime to create the right mix. This shows the outlet end of the autoclaves (pressurised chambers where the bricks are hardened using steam). After the sand and lime had been blended and processed in the machine wing, the bricks were transported mechanically to the autoclaves where they were steamed for 12 hours at 180lbs per square inch pressure. The pressure was then allowed to drop. Each of the four autoclaves seen here measured 22m by 2m in diameter and held 22 cars loaded with 1,000 bricks, which weighed just over 3 tonnes. The sand/lime mixture was chemically bonded, a process speeded up by steam pressure. The bricks were taken from the autoclaves 12 hours after the pressure was completely turned off. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.
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