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High Pit

Garnkirk, Highpit Plantation, Lanarkshire.

Mine (fireclay), mid to latest 19th c.

Shown as 'High Pit' on 1898 25" OS map, with mineral railway running SE to Garnkirk Fire Clay Works. Annotated on geol. survey map, indicating that it encountered both the Captain & Garnkirk fireclay bands at 54 & 82m, respectively. The E side of the wasted main seam workings, which became contiguous with younger pre-1866 workings from the Garnkirk Old Pit [see site #8168], are shown on the latter's abandonment plan (AP3408). The shafts of these two pits were connected by way of a c. 350m-long communication mine.

Site of shaft now within woodland at SW end of the Highpit Plantation.

Alternative Names: Garnkirk Fire Clay Works

Notes: "The Garnkirk Colliery and Brickfield Co. (later known as the Garnkirk Fireclay Company) began in 1832, after the opening of the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway the previous year. Garnkirk was operated by James Murray in partnership with Thomas and Mark Sprot. The Company mainly worked the fireclay deposits underground in the area covering Stepps to Glenboig, although it seems to have also worked coal. It went out of business in the early 1900s." [SBH]

Absent from 1859 OS maps. Given coordinates derived from BGS GeoIndex.