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Melloch Mine

Melloch Wood, Devonknowes, Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire.

Mine (Coal), c.1850 to 1948.

Site of sealed adit extending S to longwall complex that was initially the Sheardale Colliery's Old Mine that worked the Splint & Cherry Coal seams around Balhearty (workings abandoned in 1896). The mine was extended W into the Splint Coal under lands beside Devonknowes during the 20th century in conjunction with the Tillicoultry Colliery [site #11018]. A small area of the Main Coal was also eventually worked beside the adit tunnel that also became linked to the Sheardale Colliery 'New Mine' [site #11035].

The adit extended ca. 250m SSE to access longwall coal workings primarily in the Splint Coal with subordinate workings in the Cherry Coal (latter worked until 1879 & restricted to areas N & NE of Balhearty Farm under which is the crop of the Cherry Coal). The longer-lived Splint Coal workings were also limited to areas N of Balhearty in 1888 where a pit [site #11038] beside Balhearty Farm formed the then-southern extremity. These Splint workings eventually extended S to surround Balhearty Farm (for which there was an exclusion zone to avoid undermining) as far as the B9140 road that formed the lease's southern boundary. The adit mouth at the given coordinates was treated in 1966. See mine plan S4290 in refs for detailed mine layout.

The Sheardale Colliery mine was owned by James Orr of Harvieston & leased to The Alloa Coal Co., The Sheardale Coal Company, and Robert McAllister & Sons. By 1947, Melloch Colliery was under ownership of the NCB, producing 8,021 tonnes of household coal in this year.

Alternative Names: Sheardale Colliery Old Mine, Melloch Colliery

Notes: Trove.scot lists this as Melloch Colliery & states that it operated from c.1850 to 1948. However, mine/abandonment plans show that the 19th century workings formed part of Sheardale Colliery. The two names are probably synonymous as Melloch (cottage) was located in Sheardale at [NS 9481 9607].

Given length is the approx straight-line distance between the mine's adit portal and the workings' southernmost extremity nr Balhearty. Combined passage length will be significantly greater.

Mine mouth at the given coordinates named Melloch Mine on S479 mine plans.

Hydrographic Feeds: None

Hydrographic Resurgences: None