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Garnkirk (Old Pit)

Garnkirk, Woodhead Road, Lanarkshire.

Mine (Fireclay), mid-late 19th c.

Part of the Garnkirk Fireclay Works (1832-1901). Extensive workings in fireclay, mostly in the 'Main Seam Clay' which underlie most of the field area between the Highfield Plantation & Cumbernauld Line railway (W side of this 'northern block', contiguous with waste workings from High Pit, surveyed in 1866). An additional c. 420m-wide area of main seam workings from a point just E of Dewar Rd to Gartloch Cottages (W side surveyed in 1862) is located S of the railway, with a connecting tunnel that minimised undermining of the line. A later 1880s-90s phase of more subordinate irregular room-&-pillar workings in the 'Low Clay' seam branched out from the old pit shaft that was connected to the shaft of the High Pit to the NW by way of a c. 350m-long communication mine. A small area of the 'Captain Clay' was also wrought. The pit was abandoned in 1895. See abandonment plan (in refs) for extent.

Site of shaft, which was connected to the works to the SE by a tramway, is now situated in NW corner of an industrial yard on W side of Woodhead Rd (aptly a brickwork contractor at time of writing).

Alternative Names: Garnkirk Fireclay Works

Notes: Marked as 'Fireclay Pit' on 1859 25" OS map, & 'Old Pit' on the 1909 geol. survey map. Latter states that three fireclay layers were encountered: Captain, Garnkirk, & Garnkirk Lower fireclays at 16½, 30, & 35 [64m] fms, respectively.

In 1832, the Garnkirk Fireclay Company, owned by Mark Sprot of Garnkirk House, was set up. It was reputed to be the largest and most complex works in the UK at that time.

"In 1831 the Garnkirk Colliery and Brickfield Company were established and targeted the fire clay to be found in deep seams around Garnkirk and Glenboig area of Lanarkshire. The Company was owned by Mark Sprot, Garnkirk House and his brother Thomas Sprot. James Murray and Co appear to have been given the lease over the ground. The seams of clay were reputed to be of the finest quality and in a bed 4 - 19 feet thick. By May 1833 the company was advertising a full range of products including firebricks of every descriptions, tiles, gas retorts, crucibles, water pipes, ornamental vases and chimney cans. In September of 1849, Murray severed his connection with the company." [SBH]

Hydrographic Feeds: None

Hydrographic Resurgences: None