Knowton No.1 & 2 pits

A colliery opened in 1903 with No.1 pit to the Mill coal at 30 fathoms, and No.2 pit to the Shotts Gas Coal at 15 fathoms and the Mill Coal at 32 fathoms. The 1924 Colliery Yearbook records that the pit then employing 352 underground and 102 surface workers; manager: Stewart Chambers

References

BORING OPERATIONS.—A lease the minerals Knowton Farm, west from Fauldhouse, has been taken by two local colliery proprietors, and boring commenced this week. Nobody doubts the presence of coal all over the estate, and the only question to be faced now is that of securing the most suitable site for sinking operations

Linlithgowshire Gazette, 21st June 1907

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The re-start - Fauldhouse has not made much progress.... Their (Barr and Thornton) other pits at Knowton and Knowes are far from being int this position, Knowton being partly flooded and blocked with large falls, while Knowes is drowned out and unlikely to start for a long time. At Braehead (Hirst Coal Coy.) pumping operations ae being conducted and work may start next week some time.

Linlithgowshire Gazette 8th July 1921

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COLLIERY CLOSES. 500 Men Idle at Fauldhouse. A notice was posted yesterday at Knowton Colliery, Fauldhouse, to the effect that to-morrow (Friday) the colliery would close down for a month owing to the operation of the quota system under the Mines Act. About 300 men will affected by the stoppage. The Colliery belongs to Messrs Barr and Thornton, who give employment to over 500 men in Fauldhouse. where they have two other collieries working. The colliery has been open since 1903 and the firm state that they have plenty of orders on hand for coal from Knowton Colliery.

Linlithgowshire Gazette, 30th January 1931

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FAULDIIOUSE PIT TO BE REOPENED. Knowton Pit, Fauldhouse, which hat been shut down since January of this year, will shortly be opened and employment provided for about 300 miners. The colliery belongs to Barr and Thornton (Ltd.)

West Lothian Courier, 6th November 1931

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It is reported that Messrs Barr and Thornton are to make extensions at their Knowton Colliery, Fauldhouse. A valuable seam of coal is stated to have been discovered and this may, in due time mean more work for miners. At present work in the Fauldhouse coalfield very steady.

Linlithgowshire Gazette, 11th October 1935

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Eastward, the abandoned Knowton Colliery had been reopened on a small scale by the Gartocher Coal Co.

Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser 30th July 1938

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SALE OF COLLIERY AND ELECTRICAL PLANT, Railway Sidings, AC and DC Electric Motors, Screening Plant, Buildings etc.........At Knowton Colliery on Thursday first, 30th November 1939 at Eleven O'Clock. Shirlaw Allan & Co. Auctioneers Hamiltonnnnn have received instructions from Messrs Barr & Thornton Ltd. 68 Gordon Street, Glasgow, owing to abandonment of Colliery

The Scotsman, 25th November 1939