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North Cobbinshaw Lime Works

North Cobbinshaw, S of West Calder, Midlothian (West Lothian).

Mine (Limestone & Coal), Quarry. Latest 19th to earliest 20th Centuries.

Relatively large pillar and stall drift mine complex, situated just east of the line of the Caledonian Railway. Survey dates on the abandonment plan show dates from 1902-10. The mine mouth area is now flooded, with spoil structure on southern edge.

"The outcrop of the Hurlet Limestone extends in a somewhat broken line from the south-west of Cobbinshaw Reservoir northwards to the county march at Addiewell... Its thickness rarely exceeds 6½ ft.; but as the Hurlet Coal, 4 ft. thick, lies only 3 ft. or less below the base of the limestone the two seams were worked in conjunction, by a mine at Cobbinshaw and in a series of shallow pits at Addiewell." [Robertson, 1949]

To the W of the limestone workings is an extensive complex in Hurlet Coal, largely stooped-out and probably associated with the Woolfords Colliery (1906-26). Coal pits to Hurlet Coal are also shown on the geol. survey map to the NW of the lime works at [NT 00767 57633] & [0092 5786].

Alternative Names: North Cobbinshaw Mine

Notes: Limestone workings with tramway and limekilns beside mine entrance marked on 1922 OS map. Absent from 1898 25" edition (surveyed 1897).

Woolfords Colliery: "Until its collapse in 1903, the Caledonian Mineral Oil Company Ltd worked the Hurlet Coal from Viewfield pit to provide fuel for Tarbrax Oil Works. The Pumpherston Oil Company Ltd subsequently acquired Tarbrax and the Cobbinshaw shale field, but chose to access Hurlet Coal workings via a new pit at Woolfords rather than re-open Viewfield pit. New workers houses were constructed at Woolfords." [Scottish Shale]