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Castlecary Lime Works [No.2 Pit]

Castlecary, S of viaduct., Dumbartonshire.

Mine (Limestone), 19th Century. Pre-1871.

Old shaft marked on OS map on west bank of Red Burn, SE of Castlecary village. This is the old 'No.2 Pit' shown on the abandonment plan for Castlecary Pit, leading to extensive worked-out sections in the Castlecary Limestone band, extending around Castlecary House (now hotel) to a point just NW of the railway. It is connected to both the workings of the Castlecary Pit and Castlecary Old Pit.

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From Canmore:

Archaeological Evaluation (17 May 2007 - 20 December 2007).

Headland Archaeology Ltd was commissioned by Historic Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Executive to undertake a topographic and earthwork survey of the Castle Glen industrial area (Site 68), North Lanarkshire. The Castle Glen area is part of extensive industrial remains surviving throughout the Castlecary glen which include lime workings, quarrying and mining. Other probable contemporary features include banks, trackways, revetting and terracing. The earthwork and topographic survey comprised the recording of visible archaeological remains located in the glen. A putative clamp kiln was identified during the works. An evaluation was undertaken on the feature in december 2007. It was revealed to be two mounds of made ground, one associated with the construction of the A80 and the second probably with the construction of the river revetment. [l. Scott]

Field Visit (2007)

NS 7870 7785 Well preserved lade starts at remains of rubble dam on Red Burn at NS7855 7745, where river valley widens. Lade 2.4m wide with raised banks 1.2m high, continues downstream parallel to burn to NS 7860 7757. Then arcs around foot of slope, remote from burn, reaching up to 30m from burn to NS 7864 7766 where most prominent, 5m wide with raised bank 1.5m high. E bank merges with old rubble dyke. Continues on terrace on left bank of burn to front of large adit mouth ('Mine' on OS plans) at NS 7864 7773.

NS 7865 7775 Site of bridge over minor burn with part of structure surviving as steel train rails. Smaller waggonway rails scattered around.

NS7870 7785 Partly ruined dressed rubble triple draw kiln, with brick-lined egg-shaped pots and three draw arches facing burn. Long scarp with series of adits to NW, two adits approached by hollow ways.

NS7872 7788 Narrow clamp kiln 2.5m high, narrowing with depth, with exposed scorched boulder lining.

NS 7883 7806 Large rubble-lined clamp kiln c18m long, close to Red Burn. Several crater-like circular depressions scattered around, indicating mine shafts. [S. Nisbet]

Weir's Castlecary Fireclay & Lime Works should not be confused with the nearby Stein's Castlecary Lime Works.

Alternative Names: Castlecary No.2 Pit, Castlecary Limestone Pit

Notes: Castlecary Lime Works, disused c. 1888.

Marked shaft probably lost due to construction and widening of the M90.

Castle Cary Castle, on the opposite side of the M80 and the Red Burn from the village, is where c. 1685, Lizzie Baillie, daughter of Patrick Baillie, is supposed to have jumped from a window into the arms of her lover, Donald Graham.