Interior Detail showing tumble mill (for calcined flint) on E side of works

Description Interior Detail showing tumble mill (for calcined flint) on E side of works

Date 22/7/1981

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

Catalogue Number B 9391

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 747633

Scope and Content Tumble mill, 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 a tumble mill, which rotates on the brick plinths, that was used to disintegrate burnt flint into powder. Flint could only be processed in this machine after it had been burnt in a calcining kiln and broken down to small pieces in a crusher. Flint is an important ingredient in the production of glazes and engobes (coatings on an object before it is glazed). The Scottish sanitary ware industry developed around the turn of the 20th century and was very successful because fireclay was easily mined in Scotland. The industry declined during the 20th century because new materials such as metal and plastic were developed which could be used to manufacture sanitary ware. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

External Reference Neg no. 34/81/9

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/740151