OR/13/015 Appendix 4 - Sandstone quarries in the Falkirk district

Gillespie, M R, Everett, P A, Albornoz-Parra, L J, and Tracey, E A. 2013. A survey of building stone and roofing slate in Falkirk town centre. Nottingham, UK, British geological Survey. (OR/13/015).

Table A4_1 (below) contains a list (arranged in alphabetical order) of all the quarries that historically produced sandstone building stone within the search area described in section 4 (156 quarries in total). Alternative names for some quarries are placed in brackets. Grid references are fully numeric (i.e. they don’t include the unique two-letter prefixes denoting 100 kilometre squares). ‘Lithostratigraphic unit’ refers to the named sequence of strata in which the quarry is situated. ‘MPA’ denotes the Mineral Planning Authority in which the quarry sits: FAL = Falkirk; FIF = Fife; NLK = North Lanarkshire; STG = Stirling; WLN = West Lothian. All comments in the ‘Notes’ column were sourced from the BGS Database of Mines and Quarries (‘BritPits’), unless stated otherwise. All quarries are currently inactive, and some will be ‘sterilised’ by infilling or flooding. Figure 15 in section 4.2 shows the location of all quarries.

Callendar Park 289320, 679510 Callendar Park Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Cameron Knowe 304950, 676325 Phipstoun West Lothian Oil Shale Formation WLN Hopetoun Member Carbrook 283700, 685350 Torwood Passage Formation FAL Sandstone quarry, 20 foot beds Carnock Moor (Camock) 304415, 690970 Cowstrandburn Limestone Coal Formation FIF Sandstone Quarries'; 'thick-bedded white sandstone'; 'Building stone'; 'flaggy sandstone over massive grey sandstone' Castlecary 278605, 677792 Castlecary Passage Formation NLK Fine grained, off-white, crossbedded sandstone Castleton 285500, 688175 Cowie Passage Formation STG Cat Craig (Catscraig) 280700, 689680 Bannockburn Limestone Coal Formation STG Supplying freestone c.1860 (Hunt) Caverns 295854, 685922 Longannet Passage Formation FIF Caverns Farm 296345, 685970 Longannet Passage Formation FIF Cockmalane 290650, 676345 California Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Soft, yellow sandstone Corsehill 280115, 688295 Bannockburn Limestone Coal Formation STG Cowie 283725, 689035 Berry Hills Upper Limestone Formation STG Craig Moss 283160, 690765 Fallin Upper Limestone Formation STG Quarry in coarse pebbly grit and four feet of yellow and white, medium-grained, coarsely bedded, massive to flaggy sandstone Craigbeg 282335, 688415 Plean Upper Limestone Formation STG Supplying freestone c.1860 (Hunt) Craigenbuck 296070, 680105 Kinneil Kerse Upper Limestone Formation FAL Sandstone quarry; limestone formerly worked Craigs 286100, 687300 Plean Passage Formation STG Cultenhove 278545, 690135 Chartershall Lower Limestone Formation STG Largely overgrown but 8 foot of massive medium-grained buff sandstone still exposed Dales Wood 282145, 684910 Dunipace Upper Limestone Formation FAL Sandstone quarries Davidscraig Wood 285525, 687185 Plean Passage Formation STG QUARRY NAME GRID REFERENCE LOCATION LITHOSTRATIGRAPHIC UNIT MPA NOTES Deanfield 298800, 681115 Deanfield Upper Limestone Formation FAL Denovan 282431, 683197 Denny Upper Limestone Formation FAL Massive freestone sandstone and boulder clay top Dickson's Wood 294180, 690440 Kilbagie Passage Formation FIF 35ft-deep pit, massive, medium-grained, false- bedded white sandstone'; 'boulder clay on coarse grittty false-bedded pale sandstone' Doghillock 281845, 684052 Denny Upper Limestone Formation FAL Faky sandstone and flags Doo Craig 297695, 691000 Blairhall Passage Formation FIF Old Quarry', yellow sandstone Dougalshole 289355, 687690 Airth Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Quarry in 20 feet of massive false-bedded sandstone Drumclair Row 286655, 671575 Slamannan Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Drumshangie 277960, 668740 Drumshangie Moss Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation NLK 'Old Quarry' by 1899 Dullatur 274120, 676750 Dullatur Upper Limestone Formation NLK Quarry in 30 feet (visible above water level) of Bishopbriggs Sandstone Freestone Dunmore 283875, 688475 Cowie Upper Limestone Formation FAL Building stone: Cowie Rock, Dunmore Sandstone ; 'Quarry now largely filled with waste from colliery' Dunmore Icehouse 288170, 688980 Airth Passage Formation FAL Massive white sandstone Dunmore Park 288010, 688720 Dunmore Passage Formation FAL Dunmore Park Farm 288425, 689035 Airth Passage Formation FAL Massive false-bedded sandstone with plants Dunmore Wood 288105, 688330 Airth Passage Formation FAL Massive sandstone; 8 foot beds (BritPits). Supplying freestone and flagstone c.1860, operated by Tait & Crighton, Falkirk (Hunt) East Kerse Mains 297430, 680295 Kinneil Kerse Upper Limestone Formation FAL East Luscar 305240, 689880 Gowkhall Lower Limestone Formation FIF Hardsandstone at least two feet thick, baked Blaes 2 feet, dolostone at least 8 feet; chilled edge Easterton 280335, 686445 Plean Lower Limestone Formation STG Overgrown quarries of grey, medium-grained, flaggy sandstone; sandstone waste present Eastfield 289985, 687370 Airth Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Sandstone quarries Fannyside Muir 278975, 673895 Palacerigg Passage Formation NLK Fordel 294720, 685785 Longannet Passage Formation FIF Gartincaber 282705, 685865 Plean Upper Limestone Formation STG Quarries ; sandstone quarries, 3 feet of medium grained sandstone Gartwhinnie 282005, 687215 Plean Limestone Coal Formation STG Holes for sandstone ; 'coarse, gritty sandstone'; 'blocks of pale, fine-grained sandstone seen'; "Old Quarry'; 'Quarry in 20 feet of sandstone' Gartwhinnie Main 282075, 687285 Plean Limestone Coal Formation STG Main quarry in 20 feet of massive, flaggy, cross-bedded sandstone QUARRY NAME GRID REFERENCE LOCATION LITHOSTRATIGRAPHIC UNIT MPA NOTES Glassiebarns 305397, 690805 Gowkhall Lower Limestone Formation FIF Sandstone quarries Glen Arden 281952, 678335 Greenhill Passage Formation FAL Glenhead 279260, 675480 Abronhill Passage Formation NLK False-bedded white sandstone Glenhead Wood 279065, 675580 Abronhill Passage Formation NLK Gowkhall 304790, 689240 Gowkhall Lower Limestone Formation FIF Old Quarries'; 'no Limestone, all sandstone debris' Graham 289635, 687725 Airth Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Gray Craigs 304005, 687265 Cairneyhill Lower Limestone Formation FIF Freestone Greenhill 281480, 686355 Plean Limestone Coal Formation STG Haining 295493, 676948 Maddiston Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Supplying Freestone c.1860 (Hunt) Haircraigs 281285, 681055 Head of Muir Upper Limestone Formation FAL Overgrown quarry in false-bedded white sandstone Hangingside 303995, 673875 Ecclesmachan West Lothian Oil Shale Formation WLN Old quarry grassed and part filled by fragments of sandstone'; Hopetoun Member Hilderston 297950, 671420 Torphichen Limestone Coal Formation WLN Sandstone quarry, freestone Hill of Kinnaird 287020, 685170 Stenhousemuir Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Hillhouse 301130, 675300 Linlithgow Lower Limestone Formation WLN Quarry in 50-60 feet of freestone sandstone succeeded by blaes, sandstone and mudstone Howierigg 284560, 678900 Roughcastle Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Sandstone quarries, massive beds Inzievar Wood 303165, 688363 Oakley Limestone Coal Formation FIF Jenny Lind 279575, 679995 Longcroft Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Yellow sandstone Kincardine (Sands) 294450, 686400 Longannet Passage Formation FIF Building Stone: Passage Formation Sandstone Kingscavil (Linlithgow) 302720, 676430 Kingscavil West Lothian Oil Shale Formation WLN Quarry linked to Union Canal; in 60 feet of hard massive sandstone ; Building Stone: Kingscavil Stone Kinneil 297000, 679130 Birkhill Passage Formation FAL Sandstone outcrop Kinningars Park 301170, 681140 Bo'ness Limestone Coal Formation FAL Quarry in pale brown and yellow, fine grained sandstone with faky partings ; rooty sandstone, partly micaceous, ironstained in part' Kirkbrae Wood 299445, 686205 Culross Upper Limestone Formation FIF Innacessible Kirkton 289600, 683940 Carronshore Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Quarry in 3 metres of sandstone under 2 metres of drift Langlands 282575, 685260 Plean Limestone Coal Formation STG Sandstone quarries Larbert Bridge 285620, 681955 Larbert Passage Formation FAL Lathallan 294040, 677565 Rumford Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Opened c.1845, white sandstone, hard and durable (Ker) Loanhead 305680, 690450 Gowkhall Limestone Coal Formation FIF Dark grey sandstone and thin shale QUARRY NAME GRID REFERENCE LOCATION LITHOSTRATIGRAPHIC UNIT MPA NOTES Lochcote 297535, 673950 Torphichen Passage Formation WLN Old quarry in 4 feet of soft sandstone with shales above and below; 'rather soft whitish sandstone false-bedded fine & felspathic'; 'about 12ft grit with sandy fakes & grit band above' Lochdrum 281809, 678149 Greenhill Passage Formation FAL Quarried on a small scale (Cameron) Longannet 294990, 685670 Longannet Passage Formation FIF Building Stone: Passage Formation Sandstone Maddiston (Quarrelhead) 293835, 676600 Maddiston Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Brown sandstone (BritPits). Quarry in operation as early as 18th century; in operation c.1865 and c.1899, marked 'Quarry Disused' c.1922 (OS Maps) Maiden Park 299270, 680805 Bo'ness Upper Limestone Formation FAL Supplied stone for Bo'ness Town Hall c.1907 (Cameron) Manuelrig (Mannelrig) 293822, 676708 Maddiston Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Supplying Freestone c.1860 (Hunt) Midglen 288300, 677770 Glen Village Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Muiravonside 295490, 676955 Maddiston Passage Formation FAL Infilled Muirhead 275280, 676575 North Muirhead Upper Limestone Formation NLK Quarries in 30 feet of freestone; 'yellow, pebbly freestone' Muirhead Glen 277235, 671950 Windyridge Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation NLK Muirhouses 301955, 680380 Muirhouses Limestone Coal Formation FAL Muirpark 281910, 689610 Bannockburn Limestone Coal Formation STG Muirside 302094, 689805 Oakley Limestone Coal Formation FIF Sandstone with 'fakes, blaes, Ironstone and thin coals' Myot Hill (High Myothill) 278100, 682340 Fankerton Lower Limestone Formation FAL Quarries in mainly sandstone with ripple- laminations at top 'baked sediments, mainly sandstone; ripple-laminated in upper part' Netherwood 276655, 677945 Castlecary Upper Limestone Formation NLK Quarry in 5 metres of yellow medium-grained sandstone ; 'Freestone, grey, medium grained, current-bedded Newmills 301722, 686358 Newmills Limestone Coal Formation FIF Oatridge 304620, 673515 Ecclesmachan West Lothian Oil Shale Formation WLN Yellowish weathering sandstone; Hopetoun Member Old Philpstoun 305800, 677730 Phipstoun West Lothian Oil Shale Formation WLN Hopetoun Member Pamphellgoat Wood 282395, 683630 Denny Upper Limestone Formation FAL Pardovan 303955, 677360 Phipstoun West Lothian Oil Shale Formation WLN Hopetoun Member Parkhill 292490, 678790 Redding Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Plean House 282570, 686550 Plean Upper Limestone Formation STG Pleanmill 285585, 686670 Plean Passage Formation STG Polmaise (Cowie) 283650, 689150 Cowie Upper Limestone Formation STG Infilled; 50 feet of massive, fine-grained sandstone; infilled; Building stone: Cowie Rock QUARRY NAME GRID REFERENCE LOCATION LITHOSTRATIGRAPHIC UNIT MPA NOTES Porterside 301784, 676621 Linlithgow Lower Limestone Formation WLN Quarryhead 289190, 676150 Sheildhill Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Quarter House 281010, 684730 Dunipace Upper Limestone Formation FAL Rashiehill 277675, 681345 Banknock Limestone Coal Formation FAL Quarry in faky sandstone Ravenswood 275060, 674420 Seafar Upper Limestone Formation NLK Freestone Rhynd House 304316, 691483 Saline Limestone Coal Formation FIF Righead 280450, 676330 Castlecary Passage Formation FAL Rowan Tree Burn (Bonnyside) 284225, 680110 Bonnybridge Passage Formation FAL Sandstone quarries, massive beds Seggieholm 279790, 689110 Bannockburn Limestone Coal Formation STG Quarry in sandstone and blaes Shaw Hill 301750, 687230 Culross Limestone Coal Formation FIF Shieldhill 290830, 676955 California Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Quarry in faky and fine-bedded sandstone Slacks 274285, 680245 Banton Limestone Coal Formation NLK Quarry in fine-grained, cross-bedded sandstone with silty laminations Smithy Wood 286170, 687050 Plean Passage Formation STG Snabhead 280510, 688790 Bannockburn Limestone Coal Formation STG Quarry in fine-grained, massive sandstone with thin faky bands, 6 - 8 feet of flaggy sandstone at top South Bantaskine (Bantaskine) 287160, 679115 Bantaskine Estate Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL "Old Quarries'; 'outcrop of splint coal overlying a line of sandstone quarries' Springvale 281480, 686745 Plean Limestone Coal Formation STG Standalane 287475, 678855 Glen Village Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Staylee 277030, 671015 Windyridge Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation NLK Stockbridge 278490, 689155 Bannockburn Limestone Coal Formation STG Soft, coarse sandstone Tapitlaw 301250, 689790 Comrie Limestone Coal Formation FIF Quarry on margin between sandstone and limestone Thorneydyke 282090, 684550 Dunipace Upper Limestone Formation FAL Quarry working mapped sandstone Tod's Mill 296490, 678710 Birkhill Passage Formation FAL Tulliallan Castle 294225, 688115 Kincardine Passage Formation FIF Tulliallan Farm 293880, 690030 Kilbagie Passage Formation FIF Upper Kinneil 297285, 679115 Birkhill Upper Limestone Formation FAL Small sandstone quarries, massive beds Viaduct 296775, 678580 Birkhill Passage Formation FAL Sandstone quarries, massive beds Viewfield (Bantaskine East) 287735, 679145 Bantaskine Estate Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation FAL Quarries West Binny 303490, 672495 Uphall West Lothian Oil Shale Formation WLN Wester Clashies 294845, 690635 Whitehills Passage Formation FIF 20ft white medium grained massive sandstone' Wester Craigend 276985, 690615 Cambusbarron Lower Limestone Formation STG Old quarry, baked sandstone with fakes below' Westerton 283185, 690115 Cowie Upper Limestone Formation STG Quarries in over 3 feet of yellow, fine grained sandstone

Table 4.1    Summary details for historical sandstone quarries in the Falkirk district.

QUARRY NAME	GRID REFERENCE	LOCATION	LITHOSTRATIGRAPHIC UNIT	MPA	NOTES
Abronhill	277805, 676075	Abronhill	Passage Formation	NLK	Pale grey, fine- and medium-grained
Airdriehead Farm	275400, 675705	Carrickstone	Upper Limestone Formation	NLK	In faky sandstone
Airth Castle	289690, 686960	Airth	Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation	FAL
Airth Mains	289850, 687200	Airth	Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation	FAL
Auchenbowie	280040, 687875	Auchenbowie	Limestone Coal Formation	STG	Quarry has flaggy sandstone at top
Auchinbee	273715, 675830	Craighalbert	Upper Limestone Formation	NLK
Auldshields Bridge	277045, 671490	Windyridge	Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation	NLK
Avonbridge	291030, 672990	Avonbridge	Passage Formation	FAL	Quarries
Bandominie	280380, 676590	Castlecary	Passage Formation	FAL	Quarry with white, somewhat friable sandstone
Bantaskine (Bantaskine East)	287410, 679155	Bantaskine Estate	Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation	FAL	Outcrop of splint coal overlying a line of sandstone quarries (BritPits). Quarry face present c.1864, 'old quarry' c.1899 (OS maps)
Bath	297460, 691110	Bogside	Passage Formation	FIF	White sandstone
Binny (Binnie)	305530, 673285	Uphall	West Lothian Oil Shale Formation	WLN	Engine House' Building Stone; infilled by tipping by 1897; pale yellowish brown, fine grained sandstone; Binny Sandstone, Hopetoun Member
Binny Bridge	305745, 673082	Ecclesmachan	West Lothian Oil Shale Formation	WLN	Binny Sandstone, Hopetoun Member
Binny Lodge	304855, 673160	Ecclesmachan	West Lothian Oil Shale Formation	WLN	Quarries with reddish brown weathering, soft friable sandstone; Hopetoun Member
Birchhill (Birkhill)	296400, 679135	Birkhill	Passage Formation	FAL	Quarried on a small scale (Cameron)
Blackcraig (Plean, Black Craig)	282550, 686115	Plean Upper Limestone Formation	STG	Supplying freestone in c.1860 (Hunt). Fine- grained, good quality white sandstone building stone (Hinxman). Building Stone: Bishopbriggs Sandstone (Upper Limestone Group); several large pits; 'Plean Freestone' (BritPits)
Blackstone	280580, 685550	Dunipace	Lower Limestone Formation	FAL	Quarry in black, medium grained silicious sandstone
Blair	302270, 689799	Oakley	Limestone Coal Formation	FIF	Building Stone: Blair Stone; massive white sandstone with fakes, blaes, ironstone and thin coals
Bonhard	304305, 689915	Carnock	Limestone Coal Formation	FIF
Bonnyside	283800, 680120	Bonnybridge	Passage Formation	FAL
Bordie	295920, 687000	Culross	Passage Formation	FIF
Bowdenhill (Bowden Hill)	298247, 674550	Linlithgow	Upper Limestone Formation	WLN
Boxton	288735, 673520	Slamannan	Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation	FAL	Flaggy sandstone
Brand's (Crawbank, Maiden Park)	299360, 680730	Bo'ness	Upper Limestone Formation	FAL
Bridge Castle	294445, 670995	Bridgecastle	Passage Formation	WLN	Sandstone Quarries
Brightons (Old Brigtons, Brighton)	293170, 677670	Brightons	Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation	FAL	Quarry in 40 feet of Brighton Rock sandstone; 'Old Brighton Freestone' (BritPits). In operation c.1845 (Ker). In operation c.1860, 'old quarry' c.1899 (OS maps).
Broomy Knowes	301930, 673705	Linlithgow	West Lothian Oil Shale Formation	WLN	White sandstone, infilled quarry
Burn Row	285325, 671580	Slamannan	Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation	FAL	"Old Quarry' 'fakes & sandstone'
Burnbrae	296010, 691420	Clackmannan	Passage Formation	FIF	White sandstone
Burnfoot (Cat Craig)	302290, 681105	Carriden	Lower Limestone Formation	FAL
Cadgers Loan (Cadger’s Loan, Plean)	282585, 686915	Plean Upper Limestone Formation	STG	Coarse and gritty sandstone, often exceeds 60 feet in thickness (Hinxman)
Callendar House	290380, 679330	Callendar Park	Scottish Lower Coal Measures Formation	FAL	Used in Falkirk and for the construction of the Canal (Bailey)