Scottish shale Scottish shale

Philpstoun No. 4 (grey) mine & quarry

Parish:
Abercorn, Linlithgowshire
Local authority:
West Lothian
Ownership:
James Ross & Co.
Seams worked:
Grey Shale, Broxburn Shale
Opened:
Post 1896
Closed:
1912
Current status of site:
Wooded waste land, with route of mineral railway and some rock faces still exposed
Regional overview:
Mines in the Champfleurie and Philpstoun area

philpstoun4grey.jpg

Open cast

Serving Philpstoun Oil Works

An unidentified open cast working, and possibly a mine, about 300m south west of Philpstoun No. 4, and developed following closure of that mine. Linked to Philpstoun Oil Works by a mineral railway that also served Philpstoun No. 2, 3, 4 and other mines in the area.

A wooded ravine following the route of the mineral railway remains to mark the site of shale workings, with walls of shale exposed at some places. It appears that the ground has been substantially rearranged with waste material used to backfill old workings.

Until other evidence arises, we will refer to these workings as Philpstoun No. 4 (Grey), as workings with this title are listed in the Coal Authority Mine Abandonment Catalogue.

See story - Bridgend's shale canyon

  • Location & workings at Philpstoun No. 4 (grey) mine & quarry

      • Show seams:

  • Detailed maps

    • Archive images

    LVSAV2007.003.001.jpg LVSAV2007.003.002.jpg

    Recent images

    P1020006.JPG P1020007.JPG P1030062.JPG P1030065.JPG
  • External references

      • Coal Authority Mine Abandonment Catalogue No. 5790, showing workings in the Grey Shale from Philpstoun Grey No. 4, abandoned in 1912.

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