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Basket Mine

Blantyre, Calderglen, Basket Farm, Lanarkshire.

Mine adits (Limestone & Ironstone), pre-1816.

"The site comprises a linear stone lined tunnel running east to west for c.8m, extending into the hillside with side chamber on the northern side. The site is situated within Calder Glen above a bend in the river, named the Rotten Calder, towards which there is a steep drop. The tunnel opening is approached by a narrow path between two spreading banks covered in vegetation. This site likely dates to the early 19th century and is a probable mine adit connected with the ironstone and lime mines of Basket

The structure is oriented east-west and comprises a stone lined linear passage covered with large stone lintels and slightly corbelled walls of roughly hewn stone block which project from the wall face. The tunnel runs for about 8m extending into the hillside. The far end seems to have collapsed or was not constructed further. A side chamber, partially corbelled towards the roof is accessed by an opening c.1.5m from the audit's entrance its eastern side with flue, leading from its roof through the mound covering the structure. The flue may have been for ventilation. The stone work plays the same role as timber shoring at other adits and the substantial entrance may be a reflection of the instability of the material being excavated.

This adit corresponds to the location of the ironstone mines at Basket depicted on Forrest's map of 1816 and referred to in the new Statistical Account of Scotland 1834-45. Ironstone had been discovered in the area as early as 1791, according to the 1st Statistical Account of Scotland." [Canmore]

Alternative Names: Crossbasket Mine, Basket Day Holes

Notes: 3 neighbouring adits labelled on BGS 1:10k map. BGS GeoIndex shows two mine entrances at [NS 66525 93981] & [66500 56040].

From the (New) Statistical Account of Scotland: "At Blackcraig, near Calderwood, on the borders of the parish [Blantyre], seventeen seams of ironstone may be counted, the one above the other; a sight, it is believed, not to be met with anywhere else in the world. Ironstone is wrought in the Basket mines, the mouths of which are in Kilbride ; but the beds of minerals run into the parish of Blantyre.

The upper seam, called No. 1, consists of a small band about 6 inches thick. No. 2 is about 7 inches thick, and, like all the other seams, lies in small bands or joints like flags of pavement. Between this and the upper band the seams of limestone above alluded to occur, and about 10 feet of blaes (slate clay and bituminous shale,) full of ironstone balls. No. 3 is from 4 to 14 inches thick; - its average thickness may be about 10 inches. There is a good seam of balls between this seam and No. 2, and from 4 to 6 feet of blaes. Beneath No. 3 there is a seam called the Lunker band, which consists of great balls lying in no regular position. But the richest seam of all is that called the Whitestone, 25 fathoms below No. 3; like it, this seam lies in joints, and is of the same thickness. Clay dikes intersect the mines in different directions which always throw the metals up or down, in proportion to their thickness. A white sort of substance, like cranreuch or hoar-frost, which almost melts away when grasped in the hand, is also occasionally found adhering to the roof and sides of the mines. This is an efflorescence of alumina, and is found in various parts of Europe in aluminous schist.

The section of rocks seen at Calderside consists, first, of the upper or anvil band of limestone, about 14 inches thick. It derives its name from the lime rock being dislocated throughout, and apparently weather worn, so as to form blocks resembling a blacksmith's anvil, and some of them are not unlike the skeleton of a horse's head. These are probably some of the figured stones alluded to in the last Statistical Account. Below this band, there is a stratum of 10 feet of blaes (slate clay and bituminous shale) ; this is succeeded by the middle seam of limestone 2 feet thick, beneath which is 3 feet of blaes, (slate clay and bituminous shale,) overlaying the under bed of limestone, which is four feet thick There are a great many petrifactions in the blaes, of which hundreds may be picked up. In the waste beside the mines where the blaes lies mouldering away under the influence of the sun and air, they occur in myriads, and are carried away in great numbers by the curious."

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