Interior View of inspection area west end of kilns

Description Interior View of inspection area west end of kilns

Date 5/8/1981

Collection Records of the Scottish Industrial Archaeology Survey at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Sco

Catalogue Number B 9428

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 738207

Scope and Content Inspection area, Longpark Pottery, Hill Street, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire J & M Craig established Longpark Sanitary Pottery c.1888 and specialised in producing toilet fitments made from fireclay. The pottery was taken over by Shanks in 1918 and in 1969 Armitage Ware Ltd became the owners and formed the Armitage Shanks Group. The works closed in 1981 and was subsequently demolished. This shows the inspection area at the west end of tunnel kiln with the chain conveyor which was used for moving goods around the pottery on the top left. The inspection area was where faults in the sanitary ware would be looked for and the tunnel kiln is where the sanitary ware would be baked. The demand for kitchen sinks made from fireclay declined during the mid-20th century as sinks made from new materials (metal and plastic) became popular and changes in Scottish law no longer made it compulsory for municipal houses to be fitted with a fireclay sink and tub. However, demand for fireclay sinks grew again during the 1990s as people began to want traditional features in their kitchens. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

External Reference Neg no. 37/81/37A

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