Scottish shale Scottish shale

Polbeth No. 20 mine

Parish:
West Calder, Midlothian
Local authority:
West Lothian
Ownership:
Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Co. Ltd.
Seams worked:
Fells Shale
Opened:
c.1880? Reopened c.1900?
Closed:
Pre-1895 & 1906?
Current status of site:
Contractor's yard within an industrial estate
Regional overview:
Mines in the Polbeth area

polbeth20.jpg

Inclined shaft to the Fells shaft

Serving Addiewell Oil Works

The history of No. 20 Mine is uncertain; from the numerical sequence it might be imagined that No. 20 opened in the late 1870's, although the 1895 OS map shows only an "old shaft" on the site subsequently developed as the "Slant Mine" .

The mine dipped steeply to the south west, exploiting Fells Shale to the east of West Calder. A cross cut mine appears to have provided access to an area of Fells Shale to the east of Harburn Road. The workings were linked to those of Polbeth No. 8 Pit.

Mapped by the Ordnance Survey of c.1895, showing only "old shaft" on the site of No. 20 Mine.

  • Location & workings at Polbeth No.20 mine

      • Show seams:

  • Detailed maps

    • Recent images

    P1000613.JPG P1000615.JPG Polbeth No. 20 mine 55-¦51'26.69N 3-¦33'45.31W 001.JPG
  • External references

      • Coal Authority Mine Abandonment Catalogue No. 4913, showing workings in the Addiewell or Fells Shale from Polbeth No. 8 and Polbeth No. 20 Slant Mine, abandoned in 1906

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