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Beoch (Ironstone Pit)

Auldnaw Glen, Beoch, Dalmellington, Ayrshire.

Mine (Ironstone), c.1850.

This ironstone pit & adjacent coal pits/mines were connected to the now-demolished New Cumnock Ironworks (near Burnbank at [NS 6018 1156]) by way of a c 10km-long custom-built mineral railway. The forested-over remains of an ironstone quarry where the Dalmellington Blackband was also wrought is located c. 200m NE of the shaft.

"In 1847 the Nithsdale Iron Works (later known as New Cumnock Iron Works) was formed and three furnaces were erected on the banks of the Connel Burn. The company acquired leases from the landowner, McAdam Cathcart of Craigengillan, to work the minerals (ironstone, coal and fireclay) on the lands of the Two Beochs, some five miles to the west of the furnaces. The company's mineral trackway was expanded accordingly. Houses were erected for the miners and their familes at two locations, one at the foot of Auldnaw Burn and the other, a single row, on the path toward Upper Beoch. Unfortunately, the quality of the ironstone wasn't fit for purpose and the short-lived New Cumnock Iron works company failed. Dalmellington Iron Works later obtained the leases to work the minerals, in particular the coal reserves, on the lands of the Two Beochs. Their pits took the name Beoch and the remaining houses, the single row was known as Beoch Cottages, In essence it was the small Beoch mining community. N.B. It referred to as North Beoch in the 1911 Census." [New Cumnock History]

Alternative Names: None recorded.

Notes: Labelled as active 'Ironstone Pit' on 1st Ed. 6" OS map, active in 1850. Given coordinates derived from BGS GeoIndex.