Dunnet's mine, East Hermand

Parish:

West Calder, Midlothian

Local authority:

West Lothian

Ownership:

Matthew Dunnet

Seams worked:

Dunnet Shale

Opened:

c.1867

Closed:

c.1872

Current status of site:

Suspected site subsequently quarried and now wasteland and wood

Regional overview:

Mines in the Hermand and Hartwood area

Inclined adit

Serving East Hermand Crude Oil Works

Early shale workings serving Matthew Dunnet's East Hermand Crude Oil Works. The seam worked there became universally known as Dunnet shale. Following failure of the oil works, sandstone was quarried providing a good quality building stone used in many of Edinburgh's prestigious buildings, and clay was quarried for brick production.

Geological Survey sketch plan LSP 461 (see Drawings, below) suggests an unusual arrangement in which the mineral railway reversed via a headshunt then entered the mine (the red line on the plan). This route was subsequently realigned to serve the quarry.

Location & workings at Dunnet's mine, East Hermand

Detailed maps

Dunnet's Mine, East Hermand - 25" OS map c.1895, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Dunnet's Mine, East Hermand - 25" OS map c.1907, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Dunnet's Mine, East Hermand - Aerial, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Drawings

Courtesy British Geological Survey LSP 484, 15075-01.

Courtesy British Geological Survey LSP 461, 16370-01.

Recent images

View towards site of mine from site of intersection of the mineral railways. Looking west. November 2011.

November 2011.