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Whitrigg Fireclay Mine

East Whitburn, West Lothian.

Mine (Fireclay), 1940-81.

Highly extensive mine complex in Lower Millstone Grit Fireclay, with passages extending 1.3 km NW to ~[NS 9545 6544], & S to ~[9635 6434]. From the mine mouths (at E end of complex) to Whitedalehead [9669 6520], most of the ground between the Main St & the River Almond is also underlain by workings. The mine buildings are now demolished, and the site of the adits (No.8 & 9 Mines) now used as a storage yard.

Located beside Whitrigg Colliery that was split between various pits formerly found to the S and SE (see notes).

Alternative Names: Whitrigg Mine, Whitrigg No.8 Mine, Whitrigg No.9 Mine

Notes: Initially owned by the Flemington Coal Company. Owners: R. Forrester & Co. Ltd, Whitrigg Fireclay Co. Ltd, Dyson Refractories.

Whitrigg No.8 & 9 mine: Fireclay mine in the lands of Polkemmet. The 1948 List of Mines records 22 men working underground, 3 on the surface - working the No.3 Fireclay seam. [Scottish Shale]

1947 - The mine found new owners in James Dougall and Sons per Boyd Mitchell. James Dougall and Sons used about have the clay mined and the rest was sold to the Douglas Firebrick Company.

Shown as Whitrigg Fireclay Mine on 1973 1:10k OS map. . Coordinates derived from MRA map, which are for the No.8 Mine Mouth. The adjacent No.9 Mine Mouth was at [NS 9669 6520].

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Whitrigg Colliery: Shaft/Mine Details: 3 shafts, 2 surface mines: No. 5 pit 323m deep (downcast), No. 4 mine 1 in 6 for 34m, No. 1 pit 77m deep, No. 2 pit 106m deep. No. 6 mine was added later, beginning production in 1952, ceasing in 1958, average workforce 109, peaking in 1952 with 111 employees. [Canmore]

Combined passage length will easily be in excess of 10km.