Go to the Main Scottish Cave and Mine Database Search Page

Palacecraig Ironstone Mine

Airdrie, Palacecraig, Lanarkshire.

Ironstone Mine (19th Century). Site of adit, in outcrop of Palacecraig BB ironstone, within strip of woodland on W bank of Monkland Canal. Condition unknown.

---

"Palacecraig Blackband: Craig, writing shortly before 1839, says: - "The Upper Blackband occurs at Palacecraig, being the only place where it has been found worth working. It is of inferior quality to Mushet's Band (i.e. the Airdrie Blackband) and is now no longer wrought". It was about 12 in. thick on average, locally reaching 18 in. It was wrought to the south of the River Calder between Calder Iron Works and Faskine on the lands of Palacecraig, Faskine and Woodhall." [MacGregor]

---

The Palacecraig Estate was purchased by William Dixon (Snr) in 1803 for purpose of mineral extraction, who also bought land at neighbouring Faskine in 1819. Dixon died in 1835 and his firm (which also controlled the Calder Iron Works, and others at Govan and Wilsontown) was continued by his son William Dixon (Jnr). The latter would eventually sell his Palacecraig assets to purchase coal assets at Carfin for purposes of iron-making.

The Calder Iron Works closed in 1921, and William Dixon Ltd was acquired by Colvilles in 1953.

---

"the Blackband Ironstone in its raw state contains about 35 per cent, of iron, when calcined, about 70 per cent; and that after its discovery it was but partially worked, and used at both the Calder and Clyde Iron Works for a number of years; ultimately it became the principal source of supply." The field of this mineral extended from Langloan on the west, to Arden, three miles east of Airdrie, very irregular in breadth, but lying principally on the north side of Calder water. The depth at the eastern extremity is about 30 fathoms; on the west, at the deepest point, 140 fathoms; on the east, west, and south sides the Ironstone is replaced by coal, and on the north it crops out. It is generally observed, that where the Ironstone comes into conjunction with whin it is invariably very much impregnated with pyrites, and in that state has been worked principally for chemical purposes...

... There is also another seam of Ironstone of more recent discovery, termed the "Slaty Band" the position of which is said to be about 100 fathoms under the "Blackband" and from the evidence of bores put down, and its being found about the outcrops of the "Blackband" there is reason to believe that it extends all under the Blackband. The supplies of mineral have hitherto been abundant from many sources, and there has not yet been any great necessity to sink to such a depth, the "Slaty" has, however, been frequently bored for north of Coatbridge, but as yet without success" [Scottish Mining Website]

- - -

Palacecraig Oil Works c. 1863-1866, run by Calder Oil Company, a partnership of James Greenshields and James Greenshields junior, and John Edgar Poynter.

Alternative Names: None recorded.

Notes: Adit marked at given 8 fig. coordinates on Geological Survey & MRA maps.