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Lauchope Mills Mine

Lauchopemills, Chapelhall, Airdrie, Lanarkshire.

Mine (Coal, & Fireclay?).

Possibly Lauchope Mills Mine that was abandoned by Bonnybridge Silica and Fireclay Co, Ltd in 1939. A mine of the same name was originally owned by Burnside Coal Co., that abandoned the mine in 1918. This may have been repurposed as a fireclay mine when the Bonnybridge S&F Co. took over the lease of the area (for the Damhead mines), but could also have been abandoned through non-interest in coal.

The given coordinates are for a coal mine that is marked at Lauchopemills on the 1912 OS map, but is absent from the 1860 & 1893 eds. At least five adits are marked around this site on the MRA map. Lauchope Mill Mine may potentially be a separate site. An older coal mine, presumably Chapelhall (which closed in 1916), is labelled further W at ~[NS 7849 6317]. An additional, and probably younger coal mine, is labelled as Toryglen Mine on the 1946 OS map where an adit is depicted at [NS 7865 6296].

Alternative Names: None recorded.

Notes: Given the mine's association with coal, any open adits should not be explored owing to potential for foul air.

"04/07/1939 - The Scotsman - Lanark County Council has been given notice by H. M. Inspector of Mines of the abandonment of the following mines ... Lauchope Mills Mine Chapelhall, belonging to the Bonnybridge Silica and Fireclay Co, Ltd, Bonnybridge."

"1960: At Chapelhall the Bonnybridge Company holds a lease of fireclay in the Monkland Estate in an area of 135 acres which runs until Whitsunday 1972. The Bonnybridge Company has contracted to purchase on feudal tenure seams of fireclay in part of the Lauchope Estate extending to 144 acres." [SBH]

Area labelled as Lauchopemills on OS 1st Ed. 6" map. Lauchope House was located S of Chapelhall (mmediately N of what is now the M8 motorway, close to site of Lauchope Colliery), but no mills are noted here.