Prestonlinks Colliery

Overview

One of the two large mines at Prestonpans, standing east of the town on the shore where Cockenzie power station was later built. Sinking and production began in 1899, and the colliery produced gas, house and steam coal through a succession of owners — Forth Collieries Ltd, the Edinburgh Collieries companies, and the National Coal Board from 1947. In 1948 it was raising 900 tons a day, 225,000 tons a year, and employed 801 people. It closed in February 1964 as the last remaining underground pit in East Lothian, and the site was cleared completely.

History

Prestonlinks was one of two large mines at Prestonpans, the other being Prestongrange to the west; Prestonlinks lay east of the town, near where Cockenzie power station now stands. Sinking and production commenced in 1899. The colliery passed through a run of owners: Forth Collieries Ltd in 1905, Edinburgh Collieries Ltd from 1908 to 1930, the Edinburgh Collieries Co. Ltd from 1935 to 1946, and the National Coal Board from 1947 until closure. It produced gas, house and steam coal. In 1948 it had an output of 900 tons a day — 225,000 tons a year — and employed 801 people. It closed in February 1964, the last underground pit still working in East Lothian, and the site was cleared completely to make way for the power station.

Geology

The East Lothian coalfield along the Forth shore, worked here for gas, house and steam coals — a run of qualities from the same pit that let it supply both the domestic trade and industry. No account of the individual seams has been found in the sources reached.

Workings

No description of the underground workings has been found. The colliery was substantial by East Lothian standards: 801 people employed and 900 tons a day raised in 1948.

Closure

Prestonlinks closed in February 1964, the last underground pit left working in East Lothian. The site was then cleared entirely for the construction of Cockenzie power station.

What remains

Nothing of the colliery survives; its ground went under Cockenzie power station, which has itself since been demolished. The colliery waste tips along the Prestonpans shore have been landscaped into informal recreational ground beside the Cockenzie road.

None; the site was cleared for the power station.

Related mines

• Prestongrange Colliery — The two large mines at Prestonpans, Prestongrange to the west of the town and Prestonlinks to the east; Prestonlinks outlasted it to become the last underground pit working in East Lothian.

Nearby mines

• Prestongrange Colliery — 3.0 km SW
• Tranent Collieries — 3.4 km SE
• Monktonhall Colliery — 7.6 km SW, Midlothian
• Newcraighall Colliery — 8.7 km SW, Midlothian
• Niddrie Colliery — 9.5 km SW, Midlothian

Straight-line distance, within 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.

• Prestonlinks was one of two large mines at Prestonpans, lying to the east near where Cockenzie power station was later built. ¹
• Sinking and production commenced in 1899, the colliery producing gas, house and steam coal. ¹
• In 1948 the colliery had an output of 900 tons a day — 225,000 tons a year — and employed 801 workers. ¹
• Prestonlinks closed in February 1964, the last remaining underground pit in East Lothian, and the site was completely cleared to make way for Cockenzie power station. ¹

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Prestonpans: environment — the Fourth Statistical Account of East Lothian — The Fourth Statistical Account of East Lothian
2. (primary) Prestonlinks Colliery (Canmore 130871) — Historic Environment Scotland

Record created: 7 September 2026 · Last researched: 7 September 2026