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Over Inzievar, Oakley, Fife.
| NGR: | NT 00880 88370 |
| WGS84: | 56.07784, -3.59410 |
| Length: | Not recorded |
| Vert. Range: | Not recorded |
| Altitude: | 46 m |
| Geology: | Cadell's Parrot Coal |
| Tags: | Mine, Adit, ManMade, Archaeo, Lost, CoalMine |
| Registry: | second |
Mouth of day level to Parrot Coal workings (probably worked from Over Inzievar No.5 Pit). Site of adit portal now occupied by woodland, probably blocked. Abandonment plan (AP194) shows that this level mouth dates back to at least 1870.
Alternative Names: Rennies Wells Mine
Notes: The name "parrot coal" originates from the distinctive crackling and chattering noise it produces when burned, reminiscent of a parrot's vocalizations, due to its high volatile content from oil-bearing algae. This term, also applied to cannel coals, was commonly used in 19th-century Scottish mining literature to describe its bright, luminous flame suitable for gas production. Geological surveys, such as those by the Geological Survey of Great Britain in the mid-19th century, documented seams like the Parrot Coal in coalfields of West Lothian, Fife, and Ayrshire, distinguishing it from standard bituminous coals... Mining of parrot coal in Scotland commenced in earnest during the 1850s, driven by demand for illuminating oils and town gas. [Grokipedia]
Henry Cadell was a prominent Scottish geologist who collected borehole and quarry information in Central Scotland, increasing knowledge of coal and oil-shale seams. In 1906 this led to publication of a major map of the Oil Shales of Lothian.
Man-made structure visible at [NT 00870 88365].
Hydrographic Feeds: None
Hydrographic Resurgences: None
Links and Resources:
This entry was last updated: 2026-06-08 09:24:02
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