Scottish shale Scottish shale

Handaxwood No.5 pit

Parish:
West Calder, Midlothian
Local authority:
West Lothian
Ownership:
William Dixon Ltd
Opened:
post 1890
Closed:
by 1901
Current status of site:
Site partially obscured by subsequent mining activity
Regional overview:
Ironstone pits

Pit in the land of Handaxwood, to the Curdly Ironstone at 12 fathoms. The pit does not appear on the 1895 OS map which suggests that this was the last ironstone pit sunk in the area, which operated between 1896 and 1901.

  • Location of pit, and boundary of the lands of Handaxwood
    Handaxwood05 GS Handaxwood05 1895 Handaxwood05 aerial Handaxwood05 lidar
    Handaxwood 5 Handaxwood seam

    References

    Reopening of a work. - Arrangements are being made by Messrs Wm. Dixon (Ltd) to have the working of the curly ironstone on the estate of Handaxwood, Leavenseat, resumed. Nothing has been done on this field now for about 60 years. This opening will go to help the mining trade in this district, work having fallen off considerably during the past ten years

    West Lothian Courier, 25th April 1896

    .......

    New Year Holidays - The various pits, quarries, etc., in this district stopped work for week Saturday last. The curly ironstone pit, Muldron, belonging to Messrs Dixon. and Son, will be closed for good this week. This will be a rather serious blow to the district as about 80 men are employed in it. This is the only pit now worked Messrs Dixon in the district

    Linlithgowshire Gazette, 4th January 1901

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