Description

Preston Island is an artificial island formed in the early 19th century which lies about 1.2 km S of Low Valleyfield.

The monument consists of an artificial island in the river Forth about 1km south of Low Valleyfield, with the roofless remains of a pumping-engine house, two mine-shafts, a double and single salt-pan, and a block of workers' housing. The island is now surrounded by a shale bank which separates it from fly-ash lagoons operated in connection with Longannet electricity generating station. The area to be scheduled consists of the entire area of the former island, irregular in plan with maximum dimensions of 120m NW-SE by 75m NE-SW.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because it is the only surviving complex with above-ground remains of one of the combined coal mining and salt boiling units which were characteristic of the Scottish salt industry. The double and single salt pans are the most complete of their type, and the engine house and associated shaft are also unusually complete. The survival of the range of workers' housing adds considerably top the interest of this outstanding site, the importance of which has been highlighted by recent research and survey work on the Scottish salt industry. It would be fair to say that this complex is at least of British national importance if not wider significance.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation

Source: Historic Environment Scotland