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Cobbinshaw Pits

Cobbinshaw Hill, West Calder, Midlothian (West Lothian).

Mines (shale), 1906-1926.

Cobbinshaw No.1 & 2 mines. Site now rough grazing and moorland; substantial remains of building foundations survive. [Scottish Shale]

Alternative Names: Cobbinshaw No.1, Cobbinshaw No.2

Notes: Given 8 fig. coordinates derived from OS georef' tool (using OS map).

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From Scottish Shale website:

Substantial pit, the first vertical shaft in the UK to be equipped with electrical winding gear. The Caledonian Mineral Oil Company Ltd began sinking No. 1 in c.1895, but abandoned construction. These abandoned structures were confusingly labelled "oil works (disused)" on the 1896 OS map. The Tarbrax Oil Company Ltd resumed development of the pit c.1905. Fells Shale workings from this pit were ultimately linked to those of Viewfield No. 5 by a roadway through the old workings of Tarbrax No. 2 Pit.