Pottishaw Mine

Overview

United Fireclay Products' fireclay mine on Pottishaw Road, Whitburn, driven from 1960 to work the fireclay and blaes under Inchcross and Pottishaw farms for the Armadale firebrick works. It replaced Northrigg in 1963 and was abandoned in 1982; an industrial estate now covers the site.

History

In April 1960 United Fireclay Products Ltd, of 140 West George Street, Glasgow, applied for planning permission to drive a mine and put up buildings on Pottishaw Farm, about 2,000 feet south of Standhill village near Whitburn, to win the fireclay, blaes and other refractory and brick-making materials under the whole of Inchcross Farm and part of Pottishaw. The company had been formed when the coal industry was nationalised in 1947 to take over the United Collieries' firebrick, pipe and tile works at Armadale, whose Etna, Atlas and Atlas A firebricks, of 33 to 42 per cent alumina, were made from local fireclays.

Two neighbouring drift mines, Pottishaw Nos. 1 and 2, opened onto a grid-like network of workings in the Bents fireclay that ran north and south from north-west of Standhill to east of Pottishaw Farm. In 1963 Pottishaw replaced Northrigg as a source of the company's fireclay, as Tippethill had replaced the Drum mine in 1960. The mine was still advertising for a qualified mine electrician in 1979. It was abandoned in 1982, though another account gives 1975. The drifts and shafts have since been made safe and the site built over as an industrial estate.

Geology

The Bents fireclay of the Passage Formation, with blaes and other refractory clays.

Workings

Two adjacent drift mines (Nos. 1 and 2) giving onto a grid of workings in the Bents fireclay extending from north-west of Standhill to east of Pottishaw Farm.

Closure

Abandoned in 1982 according to its abandonment plan; Scottish Shale gives closure in 1975.

What remains

The site has been redeveloped as industrial premises, and the shafts have been treated.

Redevelopment

An industrial estate on Pottishaw Road.

Related mines

• Northrigg Colliery — Pottishaw Mine replaced Northrigg as United Fireclay Products' fireclay supply in 1963.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• Pottishaw Nos. 1 and 2 mine was opened in 1960 and closed in 1975. (disputed) ³

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• In April 1960 United Fireclay Products sought permission to drive a mine on Pottishaw Farm, about 2,000 feet south of Standhill, to work the fireclay and blaes under Inchcross Farm and part of Pottishaw. ¹
• Pottishaw Mine replaced Northrigg as a source of United Fireclay Products' fireclay in 1963. ^1,2
• Pottishaw Mine was advertising for a qualified mine electrician in 1979. ¹
• Pottishaw Mine, worked by United Fireclay Products in the Bents fireclay, was abandoned in 1982. ²
• Pottishaw Nos. 1 and 2 mine was opened in 1960 and closed in 1975. (disputed) ³

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Pottishaw Fireclay Mine, Whitburn, West Lothian — Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry (scottishbrickhistory.co.uk)
2. (secondary) Scottish Cave and Mine Database: Pottishaw Mine — Scottish Cave and Mine Database (Grampian Speleological Group)
3. (secondary) Scottish Shale: Pottishaw No.1 & 2 mine — Scottish Shale (Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry, Almond Valley Heritage Trust)

Record created: 16 October 2026 · Last researched: 16 October 2026