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Roughcastle No.1 Mine

Tentfield Plantation, Roughcastle, Falkirk, Stirlingshire.

Mine (Fireclay & Coal).

Complex comprising at least four levels, with workings in Bonnybridge & Slatey fireclays extending as far S as [NS 8463 7922] and No.1 Pit / Mouth being located at N end (given 8 fig. coordinates). Detailed layout shown in abandonment plan (see refs). Associated with Roughcastle Fireclay Works and abandoned in 1943.

"To the east of the Roman Camp at Roughcastle on the Antonine Wall, James Campbell opened a coal mine in 1889. Three years later he started to make firebricks from the fireclay mined with the coal. Alexander Towers, the Falkirk firebrick maker provided new capital in 1894 and became the principal partner. Thomas Howie who had been works manager with J & R Howie of Hurlford, Kilmarnock joined the partnership. When Alexander Towers died in 1908, Thomas Howie became the managing partner and on his death in 1927, his son Robert bought out Robert Campbell who had succeeded his father James...

The Fireclay with about 10 inches of associated coal was mined from a pit at the west end of the works. This mine was working the Bonnybridge seams, but later another 4 drift mines were sunk to work other seams which were known as Glenfuir, Slaty Band and Low Stone seams. The last-named was especially valuable due to the low iron content. After the 1939 - 1945 war, about 45 miners were employed and produced 95 tons of fireclay per day and 20 tons of coal. " [Scottish Brick History]

Alternative Names: Roughcastle Mine, Roughcastle Pit

Notes: No.1 Pit at given coordinates was 16 fms [29m] deep.

Level marked on OS map. Coal Mining area and adjacent to railway. Probably infilled.