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Oakbank (No.1 & No.2 Pits)

Mid Calder, Livingston, Midlothian (West Lothian).

Mine (Oil shale).

Extensive mine system that "supplied most of the shale used by Oakbank Paraffin Oil Works during the 19th century. The two adjacent shafts (No. 1 and No. 2) accessed both the Dunnet Shale and the Broxburn Shale" [Scottish Shale]

Parts of the mine complex extended as far N as the sewage works approx. [NT 0790 6819], east to the junction of Main St with Langton Terrace ~[0835 6773], & S to ~[NT 0769 6710]. Adits in the W bank of the Linhouse Water may potentially be entrances to the SE area of this system.

Site of shafts now located in private grounds of 'The Bridge House' that was built on the site of now-demolished mine buildings.

Alternative Names: Oakbank Pit, Midcalder Pit

Notes: "The Oakbank Oil Company today closed down the shale workings, which have supplied the works at Mid-Calder since their inception. The workings are unique in that they have yielded several hundred tons of shale per day for a generation. Lord Tophichen's daugher, the Hon. Miss Sandilands, cut the first sod of the new shale field acquired on the Calder House estate at Mid-Calder." [Dispatch, 7th April 1909].

Labelled as 'Oakbank Mine (Shale)' on 2nd Ed. OS map, but appears to consist of pits rather than drift mine adits.

Given coordinates derived from BGS GeoIndex.

Not to be confused with Oakbank mine adits located along the Linhouse Water (See Site #560).