Scottish shale Scottish shale

Gavieside No.40 mine

Alternative names:
Charlesfield mine
Parish:
West Calder, Midlothian
Local authority:
West Lothian
Seams worked:
Broxburn Shale, Dunnet Shale
Opened:
Opened c.1902
Closed:
Abandoned 1927
Current status of site:
Site returned to agriculture, leaving minor areas of subsidence near the mine mouth
Regional overview:
Mines in the Polbeth area

gavieside40mine.jpg

Inclined shaft to the Dunnet shale

Supplied Addiewell Oil Works

An inclined mine to the Dunnet Shale, sometimes referred to as Charlesfield mine, linked by a standard gauge mineral line to the Polbeth and Addiewell Railway.

Mapped by the Ordnance Survey of c.1907 showing the mine in production.

  • Location and workings of Gavieside No.40 mine

      • Show seams:

  • Detailed maps

    • Drawings

    Gavieside40MinePlan2.jpg Gavieside40MinePlan1.jpg Gavieside40MineStat.jpg

    Recent images

    P1000595.JPG P1000597.JPG Gavieside No.40 mine 55-¦52'16.09N 3-¦33'45.37W 001.JPG
  • Newspaper references

      • The Dunnet Shale is at present being opened out by the new Gavieside mine, where the shale... varies from 6 – 16 feet, but its general working thickness is about 10 feet.

      Oil Shales of the Lothians; British Geological Survey, 1906

      .......

      ADDIEWELL SHALE MINES - THREATENED CLOSURE

      YOUNG'S OIL COMPANY, Addiewell, has posted notices at the works and mines stating that their lease of the Polbeth minerals expires at Whitsunday 1925. The Company has had prolonged negotiations with the landlords for a renewal thereof, but the parties have been unable to come to terms. It may, therefore, be necessary at 28th May to discontinue operations at Polbeth and Gavieside Shale Mines, and also at Addiewell Oil Works. The Company regret having to notify all workers at these mines and works that, on and after 15th May, work will be continued on the footing of all workers being subject to one day's notice. The situation has given rise to a feeling of anxiety in the district, as a large body of workmen will be affected if a stoppage takes place.

      Scotsman, 5th May 1925

  • External references

      • Coal Authority Mine Abandonment Catalogue No. 9057, showing workings in the Dunnet and the Under Dunnet or Barracks Shale from Gavieside No. 40, abandoned in 1927
      • Agreement No. 357. Licence under the Explosives Act for a powder magazine at Gavieside, August 1904. Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company Ltd; Inventory of Leases, Agreements &c. BP Archive 215854
      • Agreement No. 364. Licence under the Explosives Act for a mixed explosives store at No. 40 mine, Gavieside, May 1906. Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company Ltd; Inventory of Leases, Agreements &c. BP Archive 215854
      • Agreement No. 473. Licence under the Explosives Act for a mixed explosives store at No. 40 mine, Gavieside, in a small locked box at the pithead, March 1911. Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company Ltd; Inventory of Leases, Agreements &c. BP Archive 215854
  • Additional resources

      • Oral history transcript: Mr A Balloch
      • Oral history transcript: Mr James Brown
      • Oral history transcript: Mr Ellis & Mr Ellis
      • Oral history transcript: Mr David Mackie
  • Related file records
    • 195313 - Duplicate Lease between Thomas Sime, Esquire and Young’s Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company Limited re Charlesfield Minerals. 1900. - Duplicate Lease between Thomas Sime, Esquire and Young’s Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company Limited re Charlesfield Minerals. Entry at Martinmas 1900; endurance 23.5 years; expiry Whitsunday 1926. Dated 10th, 14th, 17th, 19th July 1922. Hand written with signatures. Includes 3 plans. Plan entitled Dunnet Shael, No.40 mine Gavieside, showing the workings approaching Grange Farm. Shows proposed extension of main and consort mines in red. Scale 1" to 100'. Plan showing are of mineral lease at Charlesfield as referred to in the document. Shows the area besdie the Breich water near Gavieside with area bounded in red. Scale 1.2 " to 100'. Dated 7th and 8th November 1900. Plan entiteld' no.40 Mine, Gavieside, Workngs under Grange Farm'. Dated 3rd and 5th August 1910. Shows workings under the farm and farm buildings. Scale 0.5" to 1 chain. Also a section from the surface level at farm down. Scale- verticals 0.5"to 20', horizontals- 0.5" to 66 '.

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