Scottish shale Scottish shale

Torbane No.2 pit

Parish:
Bathgate, Linlithgowshire
Local authority:
West Lothian
Ownership:
James Russel and Son
Opened:
pre 1855
Closed:
c.1874?
Current status of site:
Site landscaped and wooded.
Regional overview:
Mines in the Boghead coal

A substantial early pit in the lands of Torbane, equipped with a winding engine and an engine for pumping. The shaft reached the Armadale Main Coal at 48 fathoms and Boghead Gas Coal at 62 fathoms. The pit seems to have closed c.1875, and the site cleared, but was reopened at the turn of the 20th century as Northrigg No.2 pit.

  • Location of pit, and boundary of the lands of Torbane
    torbane 2 detail torbane 2 1855 torbane 2 1895 Torbane 2 1914 torbane 2 1956 torbane 2 aerial

    References

    Torbane No.2 pit - This pit is situated a few chains north of the farmstead Hall Torbane, it is 58 fathoms in depth & worked by two engines - one a water engine 120 horsepower & a winding engine 35 horse power. There are four seams of Rough Coal varying from 2 to 3 feet in thickness & one seam of excellent Parrot Coal from 7 to 14 inches in thickness, there are only small balls of Ironstone found in this pit - It is worked by Messrs Russel & Sons Falkirk

    OS Name Book c.1855 West Lothian Vol 9, OS1/34/9/33

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