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Dehail Day Level

Castle Wood, Dalquharran, Dailly, Ayrshire.

Drainage level for local coal mines (early 19th c?).

"In the early days coals were wrought by means of mines and shallow pits near outcrops between Dalquharran castle and Wallacetown. Day-levels were driven to drain the workings, the most extensive of which has its mouth about 150 yds south-west of Dowhail... This level extends north-west from its mouth to Dalquharran Mains and thence north-eastwards through the Maxwell and Burning Pit Collieries to the vicinity of Drummochreen. It is still used as a drain for the pumped water from the Maxwell Pit. The Burning Pit west of Wallacetown was sunk in 1827-1828." [GSoS, 1932]

Alternative Names: Dalquharran Day Level, Dowhail Day Level, Maxwell Pit, Burning Pit

Notes: Given length is approx, based on description in GSoS memoir. Passage mouth probably now buried in area of woodland.

Labelled as 'Old Day Level' on Geol. Survey map, also showing location of pits for the neighbouring Maxwell & Romilly collieries. The mouth to an 'air mine' (coal) was located 70m SW of the given coordinates.