Hermand mine

Parish:

West Calder, Midlothian

Local authority:

West Lothian

Seams worked:

Dunnet Shale

Opened:

c.1940

Closed:

1961

Current status of site:

Site landscaped and private residence built on the mine site

Regional overview:

Mines in the Hermand and Hartwood area

Inclined adit

Serving Westwood Crude Oil Works

A small mine begun immediately prior to World War Two. Hutches were hauled up the steeply inclined adit in carriages. The mine was linked by a standard gauge siding.

Location and workings of Hermand mine

Detailed maps

Hermand Mine - 25" OS map c.1897, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Hermand Mine - 1:2,500 OS map c.1962, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Hermand Mine - RAF Aerial Photo, late 1940's, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Hermand Mine - Aerial, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Archive images

(BP Archives 19800-036).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Hermand Shale Mine, Nov. 1939.

(BP Archives 19800-046).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Mine incline, Feb. 1940.

(BP Archives 19800-051).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Mine entrance.

(BP Archives 19800-056).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Winder motor drive.

More archive images

(BP Archives 19800-037).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Hermand - ventilation mine - Nov. 1939.

(BP Archives 19800-038).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Hermand Mine offices.

(BP Archives 19800-039).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Hermand Mine - sidings.

(BP Archives 19800-040).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Hermand Mine - fan.

(BP Archives 19800-041).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Carriage rising, Aug. 1940.

(BP Archives 19800-042).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Carriage being unloaded.

(BP Archives 19800-043).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Temporary hutchway showing winding house. Aug. 1940.

(BP Archives 19800-044).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Hermand Shale Mine Nov. 1939.

(BP Archives 19800-045).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Mine entrance etc. Feb. 1940.

(BP Archives 19800-047).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Fan shaft, mine entrance etc. Feb. 1940.

(BP Archives 19800-048).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Fan shaft and motor house, Feb. 1940.

(BP Archives 19800-049).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Temporary hutch-way etc.

(BP Archives 19800-050).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Winding house; Feb. 1940.

(BP Archives 19800-052).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Winding house.

(BP Archives 19800-053).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Sept 1939, Winding house tranformers and LT board.

(BP Archives 19800-055).jpg

Hermand Mine under construction: Transformers.

Archive plans

Sketch map of workings. Courtesy British Geological Survey LSP 484, 15140-01.

From "Sections of Shale Seams", a notebook by Robert Crichton. BP Archive 183734.

Production statistics from 1920.

Recent images

hermand mine 1990.jpg

Mine buildings derelict in 1990

General view of house and yard. Looking north east. May 2012.

Private residence on site of the mine buildings. Looking north east. November 2011.

Newspaper references

NEW SHALE MINE AT WEST CALDER

Workmen have started operations to sink a new shale mine at Hermand, West Calder. The shalefield has been tested by bores and it has been found that there is a large deposit of shale on the Hermand estate. The mine will provide work for a large number of men when it is opened up.

Aberdeen Journal, 28th December 1938

External references

Coal Authority Mine Abandonment Catalogue No. 13130, showing workings in the Dunnet Shales from Hermand mine, abandoned in 1961.

Additional resources

Oral history transcript: Mr Richard Blake
Oral history transcript: Mr James Brown
Oral history transcript: Mr John Crombie
Oral history transcript: George Fairley

Related file records

129011 - Minute of Agreement between Miss A. M. Thom of Limefield and Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company Limited. - Minute of Agreement between Miss A. M. Thom of Limefield and Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company Limited: Wayleave for Electric Cable to Hermand Mine. Dated 13th and 18th April 1934. Includes plan of the area - 'Plan shewing route of proposed electric cable in the lands of Limefield'. Scale 1/2 " to 100'. Dated 13th and 18th April 1939.

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