MineArchiveMeadowmill Mine
| Also known as | Meadowmill Colliery |
|---|---|
| Location | Meadowmill, between Prestonpans and Tranent, East Lothian — 55.9538, -2.9598 (exact) |
| Commodity | Coal |
| Type | Coal |
| Worked | 1952 (production 1953)–June 1960 (abandoned December 1962) |
| Maximum depth | About 60 m (deepest workings below the surface) |
| Operators | National Coal Board (1952–1962) |
Overview
A National Coal Board surface mine at Meadowmill, between Prestonpans and Tranent, sunk in 1952 on the site of an old coal washer beside Bankton Colliery. It employed about 120 and raised some 250 tons a day until it closed in June 1960; playing fields and a dry ski slope now cover the site.
History
Meadowmill Mine was one of the small surface mines the National Coal Board opened in East Lothian in the 1950s. Two surface mines were driven from February 1952 on the site of the former Meadowmill coal washer, immediately east of Bankton Colliery in the parish of Tranent, and production began in 1953 or 1954. The deepest workings were about 60 metres below the surface. The mine raised about 250 tons a day from the Three and Four Feet seams, with 107 men below ground and 13 on the surface, and its coal was sent to the central preparation plant at Dalkeith.
Its workforce peaked at 120 in 1954. Production ceased in June 1960, the date of the abandonment plans of its Three and Four Feet workings, and the mine was finally abandoned in December 1962. The surface buildings were cleared away, and the site was given over to playing fields and an artificial ski slope.
Geology
Midlothian coalfield, East Lothian: the Three Feet and Four Feet seams.
Workings
Two surface mines driven from 1952, with the deepest workings about 60 m below the surface; coal sent to Dalkeith for preparation.
Closure
Production ceased in June 1960 and the mine was abandoned in December 1962.
What remains
The site has been cleared and is occupied by playing fields and an artificial ski slope.
None.
Redevelopment
Playing fields and an artificial ski slope occupy the site.
Related mines
- Bankton Colliery — Meadowmill's mines were sunk immediately east of Bankton Colliery, on the site of the Meadowmill coal washer.
Nearby mines
- Bankton Colliery — 0.3 miles (0.5 km) E
- Prestonlinks Colliery — 0.9 miles (1.4 km) NW
- Tranent Collieries — 1.1 miles (1.7 km) SE
- Fleets Colliery — 1.6 miles (2.6 km) S
- Prestongrange Colliery — 1.7 miles (2.8 km) W
Straight-line distance, within 9 miles (15 km). Show on the map.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Meadowmill Mine was sunk from 1952, began production in 1954 and closed in 1960; it was abandoned in 1962. 1
- Meadowmill was sunk in February 1952, began production in June 1953, ceased in June 1960 and was abandoned in December 1962. 2,3
- Two surface mines were sunk on the site of the former Meadowmill coal washer, immediately east of Bankton Colliery, with the deepest workings about 60 m below the surface. 1
- Meadowmill raised about 250 tons a day and sent its coal to the Dalkeith central preparation plant. 1
- It employed 107 below ground and 13 on the surface. 3
- Meadowmill's Three Feet and Four Feet workings were abandoned in 1960. 4,5
- The site was cleared for playing fields and an artificial ski slope. 1
Photographs & further reading
Dates and workforces of the Coal Board's East Lothian pits.
View sourceSources
- (secondary) Meadowmill Mine (NRHE 130865) — Historic Environment Scotland (trove.scot, formerly Canmore)
- (secondary) NCB Collieries - Scotland (Northern Mine Research Society) — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) Coal industry: an overview, appendices — East Lothian Fourth Statistical Account
- (primary) BGS mine plan: Meadowmill, Three Feet, abandoned 1960 — BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plans
- (primary) BGS mine plan: Meadowmill, Four Feet, abandoned 1960 — BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plans
Record created: 4 October 2026 · Last researched: 4 October 2026