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Boghall No.2 Pit  Boghall No.4 Pit  Boghall No.3 Pit  Cousland No.1 Mine 

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Boghall No.1 Pit

Starlaw, Seafield, Blackburn, West Lothian.

NGR:NT 00710 67103
WGS84:55.88680, -3.58897
Length:800 m
Vert. Range:66 m
Altitude:155 m
Geology:Barracks Shale, Fells Shale
Tags:Mine, Shaft, ManMade, Archaeo, Lost
Registry:second

Mine (Oil Shale), opened 1867 / closed pre-1895.

"The first of a number of pits supplying shale to the Boghall (Starlaw) Shale Oil Works that operated between 1868 and 1882. It seems probable that Boghall No. 1 Pit was "Starlaw Pit", scene of the Starlaw disaster, one of the shale oil industry's most tragic accidents. Boghall No. 1 Pit exploited the Fells Shale; it seems possible that the shaft also accessed the Barracks Shale by means of a cross cut mine; this detail is unclear on mining plans." [Scottish Shale]

Site of shaft now occupied by field at N end of significant woodland-covered bing.

Alternative Names: Starlaw Pit, Starlaw No.1 Pit

Notes: Given coordinates derived from BGS GeoIndex. Geol. Survey map states Fells Shale at 36 fms [66m].

Given length approx. distance between mine system's easternmost & westernmost extremities (based on digitised plan on Scottish Shale).

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This entry was last updated: 2026-02-20 04:49:43

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