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Castletown Mine

Lochgilp, Castleton. Ballinmoore., Argyllshire.

A copper mine was depicted on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, though it was annotated as being disused, indicating that it had fallen out of use before the mid 19th century. The mine does not appear on current OS maps of the area. [WoSAS]

The old mine (Proprietor : Mr. Graham Campbell of Shirvan) is situated on the east side of Lochgilp, and about 150 yds. west of Ballimore. The vein was first worked a considerable time ago. It was opened up again in 1912, but it had to be closed down owing to inability to cope with the water. The vein trends north-east, averages 6 ft. in width, and hades west at 70°. The infilling consists of quartz, which is much shattered, and is recemented by a later growth of the same mineral. The ores are mainly cupriferous pyrites, with a little chalcopyrite and galena. The vein can be traced to the shore, where it is rather more cupriferous. (An assay yielded 4 dwt. of gold to the long ton. [G.V. Wilson]

Alternative Names: Castleton Mine

Notes: On 3 January 1862, a Mr Wm Smith who resided at Silvercraig Lodge (where Tigh-an-Rudha now stands) leased from John Graham Campbell, Shirvan, the mining rights of Castleton, Strondoir and Stronachuilinn. Immediately afterwards the Castleton rights were sub-let to the Castleton and Silvercraig Mining Company who started operations forthwith. Traces of their mine can still be seen in the field behind Lingerton Lodge, to the north of the later walled shaft.

In 1910, a Mr Taylor appears as Managing Director of the Shirvan Mining Company Ltd, whose object was to mine the ore on the Shirvan and Stronachulinn estates of Mr Graham Campbell. The company started operations by having the local contractor, James Carmichael, sink a 90 ft shaft on the Shirvan estate with a view to proving the quality of the copper lode. The remains of the shaft and its safety wall can still be seen in the field behind Lingerton Lodge. The funds of the Company did not admit development of Stronachulinn at the outset, but it was hoped that by demonstrating the value of the Castleton ore body further sale of shares could produce more capital. In the event the project was no more successful than previous attempts and seems to have been abandoned about 1912. A G Rankine 1987.

No evidence of this mining activity has apparently been identified in field survey. Neither Tigh-an-Rudha nor Lingerton Lodge can be identified from the available map evidence (a lodge on the Lingerton burn is located next to a disused copper mine west of Castletown Farm on the 6" Argyllshire CLXXI of 1865), but the current edition of the OS 1:10,000 map notes the Lingerton Burn as entering Loch Gilp at NR 8734 8474.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 7 August 2000.

Hydrographic Feeds: None

Hydrographic Resurgences: None