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Teasses Mine

Ceres, Fife.

Limestone Mine in a short, narrow outcrop due east of Cults. A series of ten entrances in a wooded gulley lead to extensive workings (approx. centre NO 40610 07790).

Headland Archaeology (NMRS MS 899/78) recorded the extensive remains of Teasses Lime Works during a pre-afforestation survey. The remains include a partly infilled mine, one large quarry and seventeen smaller quarry pits, a pond, a tramway, one building and the remains of a limekiln. An area of rig cultivation was noted on the northwest of the quarry. [Canmore]

NO 406 078 (centre) A rapid pre-afforestation survey was undertaken of c 3 ha of land on Teasses Estate, some 3.5 km south of Ceres.

The different stages in the development of the quarry may be roughly dated by examining the cartographic sources. Thomson's map of the eastern part of Fife (1827) shows no quarries in the area which may suggest that the quarry was opened up in the second quarter of the 19th century as the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Fife-shire 1856, sheet 18 (surveyed 1853)) depicts the main quarry area, annotated 'Limestone Quarry', which forms part of a larger complex, named Teuchats Quarry', to the west of the road. By the 2nd edition of the OS map (Fife-shire, 1896, sheet xxi.NW (re-surveyed 1893)), when the quarry is labelled 'Teasses Quarry', the workings had extended slightly towards the north reaching their maximum extent. A tramway, leading from the quarry pits at the east end towards the west end of the workings, is shown. By this date Teuchats Quarry to the west of the road is annotated 'disused' and it is possible that the main workings of Teasses quarry were also exhausted and that the tramway and small pits reflect efforts to find new sources of limestone. Evidently some of the quarry pits were opened after the between the date of the 2nd edition map and its revision in 1912 (Fife-shire 1920, sheet xxi.NW) as the boundary is of the quarry has been enlarged to take in four of the pits. this would suggest that exploitation at the east end of the quarry commenced just before 1893 and probably finished shortly after.

In 1912, the main quarry is annotated 'disused' although the maps depicts new activity at the west end. A mine was opened up towards the southeast with a tramway leading from it to four limekilns some 100m to the west. This complex is named 'Teasses Lime Works'.

The current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1972), based upon a 1962 survey, depicts only three limekilns and the tramway has been replaced by a track. It is not clear from the map whether the mine was still working or not.

The visible remains of the limestone quarries and mine were recorded as part of the pre-afforestation survey. At the west end of the complex there are traces of one brick-built limekiln, covered by mosses and with a couple of trees growing out of the east wall face. The visible remains indicate that it was over 8.5 m long, more than 2.5 m wide and more than 2 m deep. The brick lining of the kiln is partly vitrified and disintegrated from exposure to heat. The kiln is the only visible remains of the bank of four kilns depicted on the 1912 OS map. The area to the east has been landscaped destroying all evidence of the other kilns. Some 50 m to the north of the kiln, there is a rectangular pond, measuring 9 m by 3.5 m and up to 1 m deep. It is sunk into the ground on all but the west where there is a low bank. Water level is regulated by a ditch leading into the northeast corner of the pond with an outlet on the northwest corner. The main quarry workings extend east for about 200 m from the kiln. The workings are about 25 m wide and up to 6 m deep and turn northwards at the east end. there is a mine entrance about 100 m east of the kiln .

The tramway, depicted on the 2nd edition of the OS map, runs for some 180 m along the north side of the quarry although on the map, it continues east for a further 40 m into one of a series of small quarry pits. On the north of the tramway, there is a small brick-built structure, measuring 1.8 m by 2.4 m and standing up to 0.5 m in height. The bricks are stamped 'STREET BROS DUNFERMLINE'. The building is shown, roofless, on the revised edition of the 2nd edition of the OS map. At the east end of the workings there are seventeen small quarry pits, ranging size from 4 m to 20 m across and between 1 m and 5 m deep. The pits are closely packed, occasionally overlapping and although not depicted on any of the maps appear to date to around 1893. [Dalland and Carter (Headland Archaeology), 1998]

The remains of a limeworks (NO 406 078 (centre); NMRS NO 40 NW 39.00) consisted of a tramway, remains of a brick-built limekiln, quarries and the footing of a small brick-built building. The different stages of the development of the Teasses Limeworks can be roughly dated from maps of the area. The main quarry was opened between Thomson's map of 1827 and the first OS survey in 1854. The quarry had been extended and reached its full extent as seen today by the 1893 OS map revision. On the 1912 OS map revision the main quarry is labelled as disused, but the map shows new activity at the western end of the disused quarry. A mine was opened up towards the SE with a short tramway leading from the mine to four limekilns some 100 m to the W. Remains of one of these can still be seen. A full report has been lodged with the NMRS. [Dalland, 1998]

The south-east side of the valley had housed a row of [ten] old entrances, nearly all closed and well vegetated. The first two held a lamentable amount of industrial and agricultural waste, dumped haphazardly. At the third or fourth depression a small hole was found emitting very cold air. About 10 m further we came across another well-defined depression, this time with a small, but negotiable, entrance. A steep slope of earth, gravel and dead leaves, passing a low roof onto an even steeper incline which eventually landed in classic pillar and stall workings. The mine appeared dry and stable, although naturally there were piles of fallen boulders and occasional old pit props. There seemed no regular pattern to the pillars and, given the nature of the place, we did not venture too far. A short distance to the west (along the line of the valley) was a flooded zone. The average roof height was 3 m. Pleasingly, there were no signs of graffiti, 'yoof' litter or other indications of entry.

Remains of one lime kiln found, others shown on 1964 map but no trace found. [Alan Jeffreys, 2023]

Alternative Names: Teuchats Quarry, Teasses Quarry

Notes: Fine crinoid fossils are to be found in the shale band overlying the limestones.

Mine (Limeworks) NO 40544 07723.

Mine (south of Teasses Toll, southwest of Strathmore Lodge) NO 40474 07300.

Old Mine (east of Teuchats (Tatlock House)) NO 40372 07530.

Old Shaft (at Norrieslaw) NO 410024 07431.

Lime Kilns at NO 40455 07713 and NO 40033 07797.

See also Teasses House (steadings with stables and walled garden) and Castle of Tacis. [Teasses?]