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Watsonhead No. 1 Mine

Watsonhead, E of Wishaw, Lanarkshire.

Mine (Fireclay), 1938-59.

Extensive subsurface workings in two fireclay seams, the majority of which were in the Lower Leaf of the Goodockhill Fireclay. See abandonment plans (in refs) for detailed layout. Both the neighbouring mine mouth and 'air mine' entrances are now buried below a grassy field. The workings extended N as far as approx. [NS 8504 5451], and S to approx. [8495 5405].

"23/9/1938 - Wishaw Press - Notable new fireclay mine. Morningside Company's enterprise. Interest attaches to the recent opening of the Watsonhead Fireclay Mine by the Morningside Fireclay Company Ltd. The Millstone Grit formation has long been worked for fireclay in the Glenboig and Bonnybridge districts, but this is the first attempt to tap it for that purpose in the Morningside, by Newmains, area. The company formerly made firebrick from the clay pavement of the Lower Drumbray coal at the Hyndshaw Pit, but last year it became apparent that this source was approaching exhaustion. The greater part of the new bed is of the same " high alumina" quality as that of Bonnybridge, but the top ply is even richer, running as high as 41 per cent alumina. The new mine is entirely electrically operated as to haulage, pumping and ventilation and the pithead is a steel structure. It is designed for an output of 50 tons a day. The new brickwork is a 12-chamber Hoffman continuous kiln of the latest type and a Fawcett "stiff-plastic" brickmaker has been installed to turn out 10,000 firebricks per shift. The field is expected to last at least 50 years." [Scottish Brick History]

Alternative Names: Goodock Fireclay Mine, Watsonhead Mine

Notes: Operated by Morningside Fireclay Co Ltd, & closed in 1959.

The fireclay consisted of a 5' 10" thick light clay overlain by a 10" dark clay layer.

Given 8 fig NGR are for the site of the infilled mine mouth. Mine building marked on 1956 OS map.