Scottish shale Scottish shale

Foulshiels (lands)

Parish:
Whitburn, Linlithgowshire
Local authority:
West Lothian

Lands owned by Thomas Durham Weir from c. 1824, and in the ownership of the Durham family from 1702, having previously been the property of Thomas Hamilton of Boghead. Passed to his youngest son, Thomas M. Weir on Thomas's death in 1868. While bores revealled coal and ironstone seams, little mineral working seems to have taken place until the deep Foulshiels pit was sunk (in the early 1890's?)

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DESIRABLE & COMPACT SMALL ESTATE IN THE COUNTY LINLITHGOW, FOR SALE.

To be Sold by Private Bargain. ALL and WHOLE the LANDS of FOULSHIELDS and M IDSEAT, situated in the parish of Whitburn and county of Linlithgow, consisting of 313 Scots Acres, thereby. The Lands are wholly Arable, and were formerly let in two Farms, exclusive of Midseat Cottage and the Offices and grounds attached thereto, reserved for the use the proprietor. There are two good Steadings the Property, and a considerable portion of the grounds are judiciously laid out in thriving Plantations. The whole Lands are Enclosed and Subdivided, and well Fenced, Watered, and Sheltered. The largest Farm is at present in the Proprietor's own hands, and the lease of the other expires at Martinmas 1852. The Lands have the advantage good roads, and the Bathgate Branch of the Wilsontown, Morningside, and Coltness Railway intersects them. There is every reason to believe they contain Parrot and other Coal, Limestone. Ironstone, and Freestone, which could let readily and advantageously, and for the conveyance of which the above Railway affords excellent facilities. Farther particulars will learned on application to the Proprietor, at Boghead House, near Bathgate : or to William Johnston, Writer, Bathgate, who will exhibit a Plan of the Property, and by each of whom Offers will be received until the 15th day of January next. Bathgate, 10th Dec. 1851.

Falkirk Herald, 11th December 1851

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MINERAL FIELD NEAR BATHGATE. LINLITHGOWSHIRE.

To Let on Lease, THE MINERALS in the LANDS of FOULSHIELS in the parish of Whitburn, belonging to Thomas Durham Weir, Esq. of Boghead. The extend to upwards of 300 acres, and are believed to contain Coal and Ironstone, having been partly bored. The Wilsontoun and Coltness Railway intersects the lands, thus affording outlet to all parts the kingdom. Further information will be furnished on application to the Proprietor: To Mr ALEX. W. ROBERTSON Accountant. 13, Dundas Street, Edinburgh ; to Mr William Johnston, Writer, Bathgate; by any of whom offers will be received.

Falkirk Herald, 24th March 1853

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To be Let on Lease for 13 years, with entry at Martinmas,1852. THE FARM of MIDSEAT of FOULSHIELS, containing 126 acres, or thereby, as presently possessed by John Bishop. The FARM of FOULSHIELS, containing 129 acres, or thereby, at present let in Grass Parks. Both Farms are divided into fields of suitable sum, and are well fenced and watered. The lands are of excellent quality, and are capable of improvement. A considerable sum has already been expended in draining Midseat, and an application will be made for a Government grant to complete the drainage of both Lands. The boundaries will be pointed out by William Bryce, Foulshiels and farther particulars will be communicated on application to Thomas Durham Weir, Esq. of Boghead, Bathgate; or to Mr Alex. W. Robertson, accountant, 15, Dundas Street, Edinburgh, with either of whom offers may be lodged until the 30th April, 1852.

North British Agriculturist, 10th March 1852

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MINERAL FIELD IN LINLITHGOWSHIRE TO LET.

MINERALS the LANDS of FOULSHIELS and MIDSEAT, in the Parish of Whitburn, the property of Thomas Durham Weir, Esq. of Boghead. The Lands, which extend to upwards of 300 acres, have been partially proved by a series of bores, and found to contain, at a depth of 25 to 35 fathoms, a seam of Household Coal of five feet in thickness, and underneath a seam of Parrot Coal with Ironstone. The Wilsontown and Coltness Railway intersects the Lands. Further information will be furnished on application to the Proprietor, Boghead House, by Bathgate ; to Alex. W. Robertson, C A., 82, Great King Street, Edinburgh; or to Henry Cadell, Esq., Grange, by Bo'ness.

Falkirk Herald, 5th February 1857

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TO BE LET ON LEASE THE MINERALS in the LANDS FOUL-SHIELS and MIDSEAT, in the Parish of Whitburn, the property Thomas Durham Weir, Esq., of Boghead. The Lands extend upwards Scotch Acres, and the existence of valuable Minerals has been satisfactorily proved by a series Bores, and consist of Parrot Coal, Shale, Ironstone, and Household Coal—the last Seams of upwards of five feet thick. The Wilsontown and Coltness and Addiewell Railways intersect the Lands. Farther information will be furnished, and a Journal of Bores exhibited, on application Alex- W. Robertson, C A,, 82 Great King Street, Edinburgh or William Johnston, Writer, Bathgate, either whom offers will received. Mr Prentice, farmer, Easter Foulshiels, by Blackburn, will point out the Lands.

Falkirk Herald, 8th February 1866

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VALUABLE MINERAL FIELD, THE COUNTY OF LINLITHGOW, TO BE LET for such number of years may be agreed on, with Immediate Entry, THE MINERALS in the Compact ESTATE of FOULSHIELS, in the Parish of Whitburn, and County of Linlithgow, extending to 395 Acres, or thereby. The are understood to contain the Wilsontown Gas and Main Coals, and also Fireclay, of excellent quality; the existence which is partly proved by Bores, already put down; the Journals of which will be shown to intending offerers. The Estate is intersected by the Morningside and Addiewell Branch Railways, giving direct communication with the Caledonian and North British systems, and also with the extensive Oil Works the district, where a large demand for Coal, &c, exists. Information will be given, and Proposals for a Lease received, until 31st May next, by Messrs Ronald Johnston Rankine, Mining Engineers, Glasgow, and William Johnston, Solicitor, Bathgate the latter of whom will exhibit a Plan of the Lands. Bathgate, 8th April, 1871.

Falkirk Herald, 20th April 1871

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BATHGATE. New Mineral Field.—The Estate of Foulshiels, belonging to Mr Thomas Maxwell Durham, has been tested for coal with success. The Drumpelier Colliery Company have leased the minerals, and shanking operations commenced about May last. At the depth of twenty-seven fathoms, a three-feet seam of fine, clean, black coal has been reached, which will be worked and brought into market, also for supplying the fires for further shanking work. This seam lies in comparatively dry stratum, has fine hard sandstone roof, and is eight inches thicker than what was presented by the journal of the bore. Three other seams, of three and a-half feet, two and a-half feet, and five feet in thickness, are expected to be jound at a further depth of fifteen, three, and seven fathoms respectively. The mineral field on this estate alone will extend over 400 square acres.

Falkirk Herald, 29th January 1874

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WHITBURN—FATAL ACCIDENT. A melancholy accident, by which John Mackenzie, an engineman was deprived of life, occurred at Foulshiels coal-pit near Whitburn yesterday morning . Mackenzie was attending to the engine, and by some means came into contact with, and was dragged in among the machinery. He was immediately conveyed to Gateside, Whitburn, where he resided , but before reaching the house he expired The deceased leaves a widow aud children , most of whom are grown up

The Scotsman, 5th November 1874