Deans No.2 mine

Parish:

Bathgate, Linlithgowshire

Local authority:

West Lothian

Ownership:

West Lothian Oil Co. Ltd

Seams worked:

Broxburn Shale

Opened:

Post 1885

Closed:

Last worked c. 1891

Current status of site:

Within Deans North industrial estate; no surface features remain

Regional overview:

Mines in the Deans area

Inclined shaft

Serving Deans Crude Oil Works

NOTE: There is some evidence that "Mine No. 2" and "Mine No. 3" may have been incorrectly labelled on the 1897 O.S map, and that No. 2 should be labeled as No. 3 and vice versa. Until further evidence comes to light however, it is assumed that the labels on the OS map are correct.

The early history of the Deans mines remains unclear. The second edition OS map (c.1897) clearly labels an area of derelict ground as "Mine No. 2". Within this area, a feature immediately south of the tramway seems likely to present a mine entrance. Mine plans show there were two mine entrances to the Broxburn Shale from this site,and also one or two shafts to the Broxburn Shale slightly to the north.

Shale-field: Deans shale-field.

Mapped by the Ordnance Survey of c.1897, showing a disused and mostly cleared mine site, with adit entrance? beside tramway.

Location & workings at Deans No.2 mine

Detailed maps

Deans No.2 Mine - 25" OS map c.1895, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Deans No.2 Mine - 25" OS map c.1916, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Deans No.2 Mine - Aerial, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Drawings

Detail of map of workings in the Broxburn Shale; Courtesy British Geological Survey LSP 46.

Recent images

Location of Deans No.2. March 2012.

External references

Coal Authority Mine Abandonment Catalogue No. 4940, showing workings in the Stanley, Dunnet and Pattison Shales from Deans No. 1, No. 2, Caputhall, abandoned in 1906.