Description

The monument comprises a coal pit and associated spoil heap, situated at approximately 250m OD on the W slope of Hilderston Hills.

The pit is noted on the 1st edition of the 6-inch map (Linlithgowshire, 1856, sheet 5) as an 'Old Coal Pit'. The Ordnance Survey Name Book, 1856 indicates that the pit was approximately 106m (58 fathoms) deep and communicate with a level by a tunneled roadway at the base of the hill. It had not been worked for some time due to a disagreement between proprietors.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, with maximum dimensions of 69m NW-SE by 40m transversely, to include the pit and an area around in which evidence relating to the construction and use of the pit may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as an example of a coal pit which was abandoned at an early stage without further industrial exploitation, and which will therefore preserve early features undisturbed by later activity. It therefore has considerable potential to contribute to our understanding of early coal mining.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as NS9788 7164.

References:

ORIGINAL NAME BOOKS OF THE ORDNANCE SURVEY 1856, Book No. 55, 61-2.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland