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Bowden Hill [Overview]

SW of Linlithgow, West Lothian.

Generic reference to a group of adits associated with the lime works at Bowden Hill. The summit of the hill is the site of a prehistoric hill fort. The entrances to the adits are outside the scheduled monument but the limestone tunnels may extend into the scheduled area.

There are quarries of limestone in the Hilderston and Bowden Hills, the latter of which is worked from the side of the hill. [Topographical Dictionary]

In Bowden hill is another limestone quarry, or rather mine, entered by a horizontal shaft in the side of the hill, and chambered out regularly, leaving columns to support the roof of what is becoming an immense cave. [OSA]

This mine is some 1 kilometre SE of the A706 at Easter Carriber. The hill has an extensive tunnel system leading to pillar and room workings. The works extend some 300m and are excavated either side of the present road [?]. The stone was used for agricultural uses and was transported by the Union Canal. Stone buildings and two kilns are noted on the site. There is a small pillar and room working on the top of Bowden Hill which has two entrances. [GSS in GSG, 2008]

Access via the fish farm at Easter Carriber (with the permission of the owner). Head southeast round the pond then follow the fence of the adjacent field. A series of at least 3 open entrances (low crawls over run ins) and 5 or more blocked entrances on the steep north side of Bowden Hill into an interconnected network of limestone tunnels. Some open passages with solid walls. Some passages lined with deads. Some areas collapsed so very cave-like. Areas of earth or mud floors and others with a cowering of loose rocks. Some passages entirely blocked. [GSG, 2018]

The Bowdenhill limeworks (Bowdenhill Limstone Company) was owned by Mr Forbes of Lochcote and worked by Mr Rankin. Mining operations began around the 19th century, until 1901. The limestone was used in agricultural purposes, probably spreading on the fields. It was quite a small venture based on the NE side of Bowdenhill, near the historic village of Torphichen.

Still evident are three massive single vent kilns built into the south side of the hill. The structures are at least twenty feet high with massive buttress supports on each supporting corner. The kilns appear to be in good condition and have been in-filled with rubble and the remains of the operation to prevent injury by falling into the 10 foot wide upper vents. There are also the remains of a further three clamp kilns to the North West, built into the lower levels of the hill.

There were eight mines tunnelled into the hillside of the ancient fort with four still in obvious existence. The shafts are built on the 'room and pillar' principle of mining engineering, leaving the shafts in a precarious state. They extend hundreds of metres through the hill towards Lochote on the other side. Just to the north of all this industry, lies a small decaying steading. It is probably the workers residence and the former house of Mr Rankin. It is formed of four buildings with room for horses and a small paddock at the rear. The houses are generally falling down and in a poor condition.

There are access roads and a tramway to the NW, past Easter Carriber kilns to the landing stage at the Union Canal at Bridge 48 for the transport of coal and lime. Limestone was also sent to Causewayend Ironworks. These kilns were eventually supplanted by the more economically situated kiln block at Easter Carriber.

Limestone is seen in close contact with dolerite at Bowden Hill. [Economic minerals of Scotland]

Carriber and Bowden Limestone At Carriber the limestone is worked by a mine This bed lies in a trough inclined to the north west There are some hitches in it from 1 to 14 feet The same bed is mined to the south below Bowden Hill where the mine is 200 yards long at the entrance to which the lime stone appears with a bed of shale above it upon which the greenstone of Bowden Hill rests The limestone also rises in a trough similar to that of Carriber It was at one time proposed to drain the loch at Lochcott which lies on the south side of the hill by means of this mine near which place this limestone was also at one time worked to a considerable extent. [THASS]

Alternate Names: Bowden Hill Limestone Mine

Notes: The coordinates given are for the buildings associated with the workings. There is no entrance at these coordinates.

The GSS description above (c. 1968) is either in error or seriously out of date. The road mentioned was the access road to the works which was never much more than a track and is now no longer visible.

Do not confuse with Bowden Hill Hematite Mine. Hennock, Devon.

The roof and walls of these tunnels are unstable in places. Do not enter without the proper safety equipment.

Also be aware mobile phones do not work underground (there is no signal). There has been at least one occasion when the emergency services have been called because those on the surface could not contact those underground who took longer than expected to return.