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Leggins Pit

SE of Paisley, Hurlet, City of Glasgow (Renfrewshire).

Mine, Quarry (alum), 19th Century.

Alum works complex with alum pit (Leggins Pit) and quarry shown on 1864 OS 6" map.

The alum complex appears derelict on the 1897 OS map, on which the site has been occupied by gas works. Currently the entire site has been infilled and repurposed as Rid Hills Park on W side of the Levern Water.

"An Alum Pit situated Close to the Hurlet Alum Works the property of Mr John King and wrought by him" [OS Namebook]

Alternative Names: Hurlet Alum Shale Mine, Leggin Pit

Notes: Works at Hurlet near Paisley started by Charles Mackintosh 1797.

Alum (Aluminium sulphate [?] or crystallised with ammonium sulphate). Alum made by combining Alum shale (containing pyrites and shale oil) burnt with potassium carbonate (from brushwood, kelp or Potassium chloride (salt boiled with potash to form soda)).

Given coordinates are for approx. location of the mine shaft labelled on the 1864 OS 6" map. No shaft marked on geological survey map. Depth from Skillen, 1990.