Scottish shale Scottish shale

Baads No.15 pit

Parish:
West Calder, Midlothian
Local authority:
West Lothian
Seams worked:
Broxburn Shale, Houston Coal
Opened:
c.1872
Closed:
Abandoned about 1883?
Current status of site:
Substantial waste bing (merged with the bing of Baads No. 17 Mine) set within agricultural land
Regional overview:
Mines in the Hermand and Hartwood area

Baads 15 pit.jpg

Vertical shaft, about 100 fathoms deep to the Fells shale

Serving Addiewell Oil Works

Workings in the Fells Shale and a small area of Broxburn Shale, linked by cross-cut mine to the workings of Baads No. 22 Pit. Houston Coal was also worked. The mine was served by a standard gauge mineral railway to Addiewell Chemical Works. The substantial pithead complex included two shafts; it is unclear whether shale and coal were serviced from different shafts. The British Geological Survey plan shows that Broxburn Shale was last worked in 1881, and Houston Coal in 1883..

  • Location & workings at Baads No.15 pit

      • Show seams:

  • Detailed maps

    • Drawings

    baads15BGS1.jpg

    Recent images

    1040444.jpg 1060347.jpg P1040841.JPG P1040830.JPG P1040817.JPG
  • Official references

      • The Fells Shale was extensively worked at No.15 pit, situated 400 yards to the North West of Baads, which was sunk 150 fathoms to the Broxburn Shale, and a level cross-cut mine was driven at this depth to the Fells Shale. This shaft passed through the (Blackbrae) fault.

      British Geological Survey, 1906

  • External references

      • Coal Authority Mine Abandonment Catalogue No. 1777, showing workings in the Houston Coal and oil shale from Baads and Harwood, abandoned in 1885.

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