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Philpstoun No.1 Mine

Westfield, Philpstoun, E of Linlithgow, West Lothian.

Mine (Oil Shale), 1885-1931.

"A substantial mine, located close to the retorts of Philpstoun Oil Works, which remained in production throughout the active life of the oil works. A second No. 1 Mine (referred to here as Philpstoun Whitequarries No. 1) was sunk in 1939 at a site 1.3 miles to the north east at Whitequarries, which presumably linked to the workings of the original Philpstoun No. 1." [Scottish Shale]

The SW extremity of the mine system was c. 300 m to the SW of Philpstoun at ~[ NT 0460 7666], whilst the furthest NE point was close to Abercorn Monastery at ~[NT 0801 7918]. The distance between these points is c. 4.2 km. See Scottish Shale website (in links) for digitised mine extent.

The main adit site at the given coordinates is now occupied by woodland (adit appears to be buried). However, open entrances have been reported from the Whitequarries area of the mine system.

Alternative Names: Philpstoun Oil Works Mine No 1

Notes: Operated by James Ross & Co. (Philpstoun Works) Ltd, serving Philpstoun Oil Works.

Escape shaft labelled on 1897 OS map on S side of railway at [NT 0582 7694].

Given coordinates derived from BGS GeoIndex.