Scottish shale Scottish shale

Hopetoun No.41 (Fawnspark) mine

Parish:
Kirkliston, Linlithgowshire and Midlothian
Local authority:
West Lothian
Seams worked:
Broxburn Shale
Opened:
c.1906
Closed:
1927
Current status of site:
Site returned to agriculture, but leaving substantial subsidence
Regional overview:
Mines in the Hopetoun area

hopetoun41mine1.jpg

Inclined adit

Serving Hopetoun Oil Works

A shallow mine exploiting shale on either side of the Union Canal, resulting in considerable subsidence. Linked by standard gauge railway to Hopetoun Oil Works.

Mapped by the Ordnance Survey of c.1916, showing mine in production with adits heading northwards towards the Union Canal.

  • Location & workings at Hopetoun No.41 (Fawnspark) mine

      • Show seams:

  • Detailed maps
    • 194711.jpg
  • Drawings
      • Hopetoun41MinePlan1.jpg Hopetoun41MineStat.jpg

    Recent images

    P1000890.JPG P1010618.JPG P1000887.JPG
  • Newspaper references

      • The same company (Young's Oil Co.) propose laying a railroad from No.35 pit at Threemiletown to their new mine which is being opened up near Fawnspark farm. It is understood this work will commence in the course of a few days.

      Linlithgowshire Gazette, 7th September 1906

  • External references

      • Coal Authority Mine Abandonment Catalogue No. 9092, showing workings in the Broxburn Main, Upper Gray, Grey, and Upper Shales from Hopetoun No. 41 Pit, abandoned in 1927.
      • Agreement No. 406. Licence under the Explosives Act for a gunpowder store at Hopetoun No. 41 mine, December 1907. Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company Ltd; Inventory of Leases, Agreements &c. BP Archive 215854
  • Related file records
    • 194711 - Tenants Duplicate, Lease between the Most Honourable John Adrian Louis, Marquis of Linlithgow, K.T., and Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil [...] - Tenants Duplicate, Lease between the Most Honourable John Adrian Louis, Marquis of Linlithgow, K.T., and Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company Limited of Coal and Oil Shale in part of Estate of Hopetoun, dated 11th and 18th November 1903. Agreement commencing on 15th May 1905 and terminating on 15th May 1936. In addition, minute of Agreement appended, dated 23rd and 28th October 1907. Includes plan of area referred to in the lease with Fawnspark and Cockmuir also notied. Dated 1907. Scale of plan is 1 and 1/2 inches to 200 ft. Attached are 2 letters dated 22nd and 23rd February 1905 which discuss the Hopetoun Mineral Lease and the sinking or development of minerals at Fawnspark.

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