A substantial and long-lived pit in the lands of Woodend with associated coke ovens. Production ceased in 1965, however the washers remained in used, serving opencast workings, until c.2000
- The 1883 List of Mines records Woodend No.5 as owned by the Coltness Iron Co. Ltd. manager D. Cranston, working the Main coal by the stoop and room method, and Ball and BB coal and Ironstone, worked by the longwall method, employing 14 on the surface and 110 underground. The downcast shaft was 6' x 6' and 252 ft deep, the upcast was 5' x 5' and 255 feet deep. It was a non-fiery mine ventilated by 15' fan.
- The 1885 List of Mines records Woodend No.5 as owned by the Coltness Iron Co. Ltd. manager D. Cranston, working the Main and 3'6"coal by the stoop and room method, employing 90 on the surface and 130 underground. The downcast shaft was 16' x 5' and 252 ft deep, the upcast was 14' x 5' and 255 feet deep. It was a non-fiery mine ventilated by 15' fan.
- The 1945 List on Mines records Woodend colliery owned by Coltness Iron Co. Ltd, manager D.J. Naismith, under-manager Wm. Lydall employing 213 underground and 88 surface workers, working coal, anthracite, using electical power and coal cutters underground.
- The 1948 List of Mines records Woodend colliery of the Slamannan-Shotts sub area of the NCB Central East area, manager D J Naismith, Wm. Lyall under-manager, employing 243 underground and 84 surface workers, working the Armadale Main and Colinburn coals, using electrical power underground.
References
NEW IRONSTONE PIT - The Coltness Company have been engaged for nearly a year past in sinking a deep and expensive pit at Woodend They were despairing of finding the stone till about a week ago, when, to the joy of all concerned, it was discovered
Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser, 30th October 1858
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On Sunday evening, about nine o’clock, the engine-keeper of No.5 Pit, Woodend, belonging to the Coltness Iron Company discovered smoke issuing from the back of the engine house. He at once did his utmost endeavour to extinguish the fire by throwing bucketsful of water on the enginehouse, and although he wrought boldly he was unable to master the flames, which now burst up. The damage is estimated at fully £1200, and no clue can be got to the cause of the fire. By this lamentable accident nearly all the men—numbering 150—in the Woodend district will be thrown idle.
Glasgow Herald, 28th August 1870
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ARMADALE - A correspondent writes that the account of a fire at Woodend Pit, belonging to the Coltness Iron Company, which appeared in the Herald of Tuesday last, was much exaggerated. The engine-house was completely consumed, but one of the valuable engines spoken of as being destroyed was set to work in little more than 24 hours after the fire took place, and the other engine is expected to be working in a few days, and the work going on as usual.
Glasgow Herald, 2nd September 1870
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ACCIDENT AT WOODEND
Yesterday forenoon while an engine-keeper named John Ballantyne, 71 years of age, and residing at Woodend Village was standing on the gangway near the coke ovens at No.5 pit, belonging to the Coltness Iron Company, a portion of the gangway gave way and he fell to the ground a distance of 18 feet. Ballantyne received sever injuries to this back and one of this legs.
Glasgow Herald, 14th September 1888
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N.C.B. to Open New Opencast Preparatory work to begin shortly on a 220 acre site in the Blackridge area for the start of work on a new coalfield. The open-cast method of mining will be used and the National Coal Board estimate daily output to be between 1000 and 1,300 tons. Another open-cast mine is still being worked in the same area but it is expected to be exhausted by the time work gets underway at the end of this year. on the new one. Anthracite, which is in short supply in Scotland, will be mined at the new site and the fine coal will be used up by steel works. The site can be found less than quarter of a mile from the Armadale-Caldercruix road two miles west of Blackridge, and a little east of Bedlormie Woods. The washing plant for the coal will be at Woodend Colliery. Armadale. where the production ceased a few years ago. Coal will be transported the four miles to the plant by lorry.
West Lothian Courier, 3rd July 1970
