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Bay Mine (Low Level)

Meadowfoot, Wanlockhead, Dumfriesshire.

Adit mouth, Level.

The 'Low Level' is a significant two-pronged cross-cut passage that diverges beneath the Whytes Cleugh gully & connects with a perpendicular level of the Bay Mine, ca. 220m upstream from its portal below the S side of Church St. From the Bay Mine the level has two separate major extensions (a crosscut towards the Cove Mine, & the Straitsteps Level) which collectively reach levels in the Straitsteps, Cove, Belton Grain & Margarets lead ore veins.

From the Bay Mine, an extensive & largely-straight NE continuation runs parallel to Tait's Adit from the Bay Mine, linked with the northern extremity of the Cove Vein workings & Milligan's Level of the Belton Grain Mine within the N flank of Wanlock Dod hill. The separate & more convoluted E- to SE-trending branch (the Straitstep Level), curved around to follow the Straitstep-Bay Vein. It passes the Little's Engine Shaft [Site #10083] near the beam engine, & continues to meet levels of the Margarets Mine workings at Mennock Hass. Level routes are shown on mine plan SP1751 (see refs).

From the outfall, the level is blocked by two blank walls after the bifurcation point.

Alternative Names: Bay Adit, Low Level, Whytes Cleugh Level

Notes: Level mouth & shaft depicted on 1899 OS 25" map at [NS 86552 13534] & [NS 86585 13530], respectively. However, the original mouth section & its shaft appear to have been uncovered (collapsed?) as water now resurges at the given roadside coordinates.