Scottish shale Scottish shale

Champfleurie mine

Parish:
Linlithgow, Linlithgowshire
Local authority:
West Lothian
Seams worked:
Broxburn Shale
Opened:
c.1884
Closed:
1902
Current status of site:
Landscaped golf course
Regional overview:
Mines in the Champfleurie and Philpstoun area

chanpfleuriemine1.jpg

Inclined adit

Serving Champfleurie (Bridgend) Oil Works

Driven from a site close to the retorts of Champfleurie (Bridgend) Oil Works, Champfleurie No. 1 Shale Mine remained in production until the closure of the works following failure of the Linlithgow Oil Company Ltd. Houston Coal was also worked from "Champfleurie No. 1" - it is unclear whether this was a separate mine.

Other shale mines serving Champfleurie (Bridgend) Oil Works appear to have been sited south of the works, in Lord Rosebery's Ochiltree Estate, and were named "Ochiltree" rather than "Champfleurie". The workings of Champfleurie No. 1 ultimately linked to those of Ochiltree No. 2 and 3 Mines.

Shale-field: Champfleurie, Philpstoun and Blackness shale-field.

Mapped by the Ordnance Survey of c.1896, showing the mine in production.

  • Location & workings at Champfleurie mine

      • Show seams:

  • Detailed maps
  • Drawings & plans
      • Champfleurie1MinePlan1.jpg Champfleurie1MinePlan2.jpg

    Recent images

    ChampfeuriemineRECENT1.JPG ChampfeuriemineRECENT2.JPG ChampfeuriemineRECENT3.JPG ChampfeuriemineRECENT4.JPG
  • Newspaper references

      • At the present time No.1 mine, by means of which the Broxburn shale is got, has an incline shaft about 220 fathoms in length, representing a vertical depth from the top of 65 fathoms. The seam here has an average thickness of 6 feet 6 inches. The dip is 1 in 3, while in the other mine, the incline is 1 in 3.5 to 4. The excellent ventilation in the mines is affected by means of fans; and arrangements are being made for joining the two together, which will still further improve it, as also facilitate the transit of the shale. Pumping gear, working 16 hours per day, effectually keeps the mines clear of water. ....an incline mine has been run into the Houston seam of coal, the output from which is 80 tons a day.

      Scotsman, 14th January 1887

  • External references

      • Coal Authority Mine Abandonment Catalogue No. 4252, showing workings in the Broxburn and Dunnet Shales and the Houston Coal from Champfleurie, abandoned in 1902.

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