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Urquhart Day Level [New Pittencrieff Colliery]

North Urquhart, Baldridgeburn, Dunfermline, Fife.

Mine (Coal), early/mid-19th century.

Situated along the Urquhart Day Level, this pit is depicted as an active 'coal pit' forming part of the long-lived Pittencrieff Colliery on the OS map of 1856 (suggesting that it was active up until at least 1853). All other surrounding pits of the Pittencrieff Colliery are labelled as 'old coal pit' on this map edition.

This shaft, which is situated over the eastern end of an area of workings in the Dunfermline Splint Coal (along with the James Pit to the N [site #7476]), has been treated & is now buried below a field. These Splint workings are bound to the N by the Whitemyre Dyke along which there is a ca. 25 fathom displacement.

The OS 6" map & town plan sheet, both from 1856, show this pit being linked with a perpendicular tramline that connected the Jeannie Pit [site #7348] with Elgin Junction (now built over by Colton Court) where materials could be transported by either the Elgin Railway (that led to Charlestown Harbour) or Stirling & Dunfermline Railway. The OS town plan shows an engine shed, boiler & pond on the small coal pit grounds.

Alternative Names: James Pit

Notes: The Geological Survey map of 1931 names this shaft as the James Pit, although multiple older mine plans (e.g. S4629) show that the James Pit was located further N to the WNW of Colton (see site #7476). The MRA map also names the shaft at the given coordinates as the James Pit, although this may be based upon the Geol' Survey map. It is possible that this shaft formed part of a later phase of the James Pit workings.

Shown as old shaft on OS map of 1896 & 'shafts (dis)' on OS 10k background map.

Water plan (S4155) states surface level of 1335 & shaft bottom at 1252 (sludge).

Hydrographic Resurgences: Urquhart Day Level