Easter Breich coal mine

Parish:

Livingston, Linlithgowshire

Local authority:

West Lothian

Ownership:

Hermand Oil Co. Ltd (1890)

Seams worked:

Houston Coal

Opened:

Not known

Closed:

Closed prior to 1897

Current status of site:

Rough grazing with site of mines and route of tramway still evident

Regional overview:

Mines in the Breich area

Inclined shaft at a gradient of 1 in 2.5

Small scale workings in the Houston Coal, not named in any known plans. These presumably supplied fuel to Breich Oil Works and were worked in association with Easter Breich No. 1 & 2 Shale Pits.

Geological survey plan LSP48, (which illustrates shale workings from Easter Breich No. 1 & 2), also shows very limited workings of the 2 ft. coal beside the Breich Water. The workings are dated 18th December 1865, and therefore unlikely to be related to shale workings. Labelled as "old shaft" and "old level" on the c.1896 OS map.

Location & workings at Easter Breich coal mine

Detailed maps

Easter Breich Coal Mine - 25" OS map c.1895, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Easter Breich Coal Mine - 25" OS map c.1917, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Easter Breich Coal Mine - Aerial, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Drawings

Section of Geological Survey plan LSP 48 (15647-01), showing early coal workings by Breich Water.

Recent images

Site of Easter Breich Coal Mine, in middle distance, marked by bushes and shrub. Looking north. October 2012.

Telephoto view from (1), showing Easter Breich farm in the background. Looking north. October 2012.

October 2012.