Eastfield Colliery

Location type

Mine

Name and dates

Eastfield Colliery (1880-1900)

Served by the Glencorse Extension (Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway).
Served by the Shotts Iron Co.

Description

This colliery was sunk by the Shotts Iron Co. This company had a lease on the minerals in an extensive area from Cornbank to Glencorse including Eastfield.

The colliery was originally sunk in 1875 until the shaft was too flooded to continue. Instead Mauricewood Pit, a little to the north was sunk.

The Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway reached here in 1877, the year the North British Railway absorbed the company. The site was served by sidings on a minerals only line from Glencorse, to the north.

Another attempt was made to sink this pit around 1890. Pumps could not deal with the volume of underground water and the mine was abandoned.

The terminus was converted into a coal depot for Penicuik ('Eastfield Siding') around 1900, the line terminating with two sidings. The Shotts Iron Co kept a workshop.

The line was cut back to Penicuik Gas Works around 1948.

The site became a football ground. It is now a supermarket.

Tags

Mine pit

External links

NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map
NLS Map

Books


Vanished Railways of West Lothian