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Fordell Day Level [Overview]

Fordell, Crossgates, E of Dunfermline, Fife.

Generic reference to the Fordell Day Level.

An extensive drainage tunnel system connecting a number of sites between Fordell Castle (nr Dalgety Bay) and Hill of Beath, this being the longest tunnel of its type in Scotland. The day level drained mines of the Fordel Colliery in its northern area where shafts along its length were initially used for coal production. Towards its southern end, around Annfield / Clinthill, most shafts appear to have been specifically sunk to act as air shafts along the tunnel. Whilst the day level's outfall point continues to expel water, all shaft entrances to the system appear to have been buried / blocked with the majority of these having been properly 'treated'.

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"The coal from these early workings was taken by horse and pannier into Inverkeithing for shipment. The horses were led over a 'Coal Road' to a point east of Fordell Castle and thence by the road from the Castle to the Inverkeithing-Aberdour Road, just east of Hillend."

"On 21st July, 1752, Sir Robert Henderson, the fourth baronet, with the idea of participating directly in the coastwise and foreign trade, acquired a small area of land on the Firth of Forth, together with a right of access thereto, from James Spittall of Leuchat. A harbour was constructed, four acres in extent, with 2 small piers, the southern one of which was built on a rock, called 'St. David's Castle', from which the harbour took its name. Though it was tidal, it could take vessels of 500-600 tons."

"Sir Robert Henderson died on 19th October, 1781, and was succeeded by his elder son, John, 5th baronet, who, between the years I780 and 1807, was M.P. for Fifeshire, Kirkcaldy Burghs and the Stirling Burghs."

"About the time of Sir John's succession, the coal under Fordell Estate which could be worked without artificial drainage was becoming exhausted. Pumping being then in its infancy, Sir John constructed the Fordell Day Level, an underground water-course, which carried, and still carries, the water from the mines and discharges into Fordell Burn near Fordell Castle. This was a considerable feat of mining engineering for those days ; the cost is believed to have been between £30,000-£40,000. A number of airshafts connect the surface with the level throughout its length and these are shown as existing on a map of the Estate dated I796. Having incurred this large expenditure, Sir John sought to extend his mining field, and in 1798 obtained from William Weymss, Laird of Cuttlehill, the estate to the north of Fordell, a lease of the coal in his lands, into which the Day Level and the Waggonway were extended by stages." [Sommerville, 2004]

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"Fordell Day level, as the longest in the county and the only one still fulfilling an economic function ..."

"... Much of the Level is cut through stone, sometimes the roof being supported with wood supports or arched with brick or stone flags, while 600 yards of it are in the Dunfermline Splint Coal and about 200 yards are in Five Foot Coal. Last traversed fully in 1943-44, the Level then was in surprisingly good condition. Today it still serves to drain about 3000 gallons per minute from the old Fordell workings and provides the Inverkeithing paper mill with its water supply.

On the main artery were 21 shafts, varying in their distance apart from 66 to 572 yards. Basically the Level is coffin-shaped in section, to allow for the passage of the maintenance men, who were engaged in it full-time - emphasising its great importance to the enterprise.

Discharging at 180 feet a. s. l. at 148852; the Level extends northwards to the former Alice Pit for approximately 3 1/2 miles, with branches to Calais Hill, Vengence (sic) Pit, Crossgates, Lady Anne, William and Anson Pits making up another 2 miles. The Level did not follow a straight course but served to link up existing and proposed workings by taking what happened to be the easiest route. When mining was carried on at greater depths the Level had still a value as pumps did not require to lift the water so far - at the Venerable Pit in 1831 - a-beam-engine was pumping from the Dunfermline Splint at 49 fathoms to the Level at 25 while in 1950 the Level was used as a main outlet for three pumping stations in the Alice Pit bottom, William Pit bottom and in the South Mine." [Stephen, 1975]

Alternative Names: Fordell Colliery, Fordell Day-Level

Notes: The given coordinates are for Fordell hamlet, southeast of Crossgates in Fife. There is no entrance to the day level at this location.

Coal mines are inherently unsafe with unstable passages, prone to unpredictable collapses and with areas of poor air and suffocating or toxic gases. DO NOT ENTER.

Hydrographic Resurgences: Fordell Burn