Prestongrange Brickworks Wagon

Bricks, tiles and pipes were made at Prestongrange Museum from the 1700s until the 1970s. Although thousands of bricks were produced during its history, the technology used was actually quite basic. Workers used the soles from old boots to protect their hands when removing red hot bricks from the kiln and many were injured due to the lack of any kind of health and safety procedures like we have today. This wagon is an example of an old fashioned way of moving heavy objects around the Prestongrange site. The ground was uneven and the site spread over a large area. This wagon is likely to have been used for moving large pieces of equipment, rather than bricks, but it must have been very difficult to push or pull. It was probably made from material all found close by - Prestonpans had many industries so shops such as blacksmiths and cartwrights were able to make a living.