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Dalquharran Brick and Tile Works

Dailly / Wallacetown, Maybole, Ayrshire.

Mine (Fireclay & Coal), late 19th c.

"At the Romilly (Dalquharran) Pit, a fireclay was also mined for use at the Dalquharran Brick and Tile Works situated near the pithead. The bed here used was 4 ft thick and formed the pavement of the Main Coal. It was wrought for thirty or forty years, till work was discontinued at this shaft in 1901. Brick works were also formerly situated farther north at the site of the Burning Pit, where a fireclay well above the coals was made use of. The bed concerned may have been the fireclay immediately underlying the Index Limestone" [GSoS, 1932]

Alternative Names: Dalquharran Pit, Romilly Pit

Notes: The given coordinates are for the Romilly Colliery pit immediately adjacent to the site of the former Dalquharran Tile Works. The Geol. Survey map suggests that this shaft was sunk to the Craigie Coal at a depth of 90 fms (164m).

The clay works beside the given coordinates replaced the original works which were located further NE to the N of Wallacetown [NS 277 033], where the Burning Pit was located at [NS 2770 0327]. A drift mine is indicated beside this site at [NS 2779 0330] on the Geol. Survey map, almost certainly infilled beside woodland (based on satellite imagery). However, it is possible that this was a limestone mine, owing to the location of the mine mouth close to 'old lime kiln' [1st Ed. OS map] and an 'old limestone quarry' [geol. map].

"1893 - Dalquharran Mine. Owner - Hon F.T.R Kennedy, Dalquharran, Maybole. Coal and fire clay. John Ross Manager." [SBH]