MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-04-09T14:22:01Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to maps held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gass Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here.]

=== Legislation ===

Before the mid‑19th century, coal mines in Great Britain were not required to produce formal plans of their workings. This changed with the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850, which first required mine owners to keep a plan at each colliery. Further regulation followed with the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1872 and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872, which made it a legal requirement for abandonment plans to be submitted to the Secretary of State when a mine closed.

For non‑coal mines, the rules were less stringent—plans only needed to be deposited if at least 12 men had worked underground, a relaxation that continued until 1993. Early abandonment plans were typically basic, often showing only the boundaries of worked areas and omitting crucial details such as orientation, depth of workings, or extraction information. As a result, many historic plans lack the detail and consistency seen in later statutory mapping standards.

For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

Significant gaps exist in our understanding of historic mining activity. By the time formal legislation required the recording and deposition of mine plans, many thousands of workings had already been abandoned - leaving no reliable record of their extent or condition. As a result, knowledge of these early, unrecorded workings has often been lost.

Even where early plans do exist, they were produced using basic surveying methods and equipment that lacked the accuracy expected of modern mine plans. Records created before the 1872 statutory requirements are therefore often incomplete, inconsistent, or unreliable.

Because of these limitations, anyone using historical mining information should treat it with caution and always seek advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the detail contained within these records.
For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Year !! Event
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex.]

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link.]

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex.]

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk).]

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer.]

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans.]

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback.]

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

If you have coal mine plans which could be added to the MRAs collection, please get in contact through [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback the following feedback form.]

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

==== Resources ====

[https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com Mining Remediation Authority Map Viewer]

[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7e048740f0b62305b80432/ndoned_Mines_Catalogue_Metadata_V4.pdf Abandoned Mines Catalogue Metadata. Mining Remediation Authority.]

[https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coal-mining-records-data-deeds-and-documents Coal mining records, data, deeds and documents at the Mining Remediation Authority — overview]

[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/mines-mining/ Mines and mining National Archives]

[https://nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/coal-mining-in-the-british-isles/collieries-of-the-british-isles/ Collieries of the British Isles. Northern Mines Research Society]

[https://www.library.wales/catalogues-searching/about-our-collections/maps/mining-plans Mining plans. The National Library of Wales]

[[Category:History of British geology]]

[[Category:History of the British Geological Survey]]

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-04-09T14:20:47Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to maps held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gass Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here.]

=== Legislation ===

Before the mid‑19th century, coal mines in Great Britain were not required to produce formal plans of their workings. This changed with the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850, which first required mine owners to keep a plan at each colliery. Further regulation followed with the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1872 and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872, which made it a legal requirement for abandonment plans to be submitted to the Secretary of State when a mine closed.

For non‑coal mines, the rules were less stringent—plans only needed to be deposited if at least 12 men had worked underground, a relaxation that continued until 1993. Early abandonment plans were typically basic, often showing only the boundaries of worked areas and omitting crucial details such as orientation, depth of workings, or extraction information. As a result, many historic plans lack the detail and consistency seen in later statutory mapping standards.

For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

Significant gaps exist in our understanding of historic mining activity. By the time formal legislation required the recording and deposition of mine plans, many thousands of workings had already been abandoned - leaving no reliable record of their extent or condition. As a result, knowledge of these early, unrecorded workings has often been lost.

Even where early plans do exist, they were produced using basic surveying methods and equipment that lacked the accuracy expected of modern mine plans. Records created before the 1872 statutory requirements are therefore often incomplete, inconsistent, or unreliable.

Because of these limitations, anyone using historical mining information should treat it with caution and always seek advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the detail contained within these records.
For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex.]

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link.]

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex.]

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk).]

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer.]

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans.]

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback.]

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

If you have coal mine plans which could be added to the MRAs collection, please get in contact through [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback the following feedback form.]

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

==== Resources ====

[https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com Mining Remediation Authority Map Viewer]

[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7e048740f0b62305b80432/ndoned_Mines_Catalogue_Metadata_V4.pdf Abandoned Mines Catalogue Metadata. Mining Remediation Authority.]

[https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coal-mining-records-data-deeds-and-documents Coal mining records, data, deeds and documents at the Mining Remediation Authority — overview]

[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/mines-mining/ Mines and mining National Archives]

[https://nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/coal-mining-in-the-british-isles/collieries-of-the-british-isles/ Collieries of the British Isles. Northern Mines Research Society]

[https://www.library.wales/catalogues-searching/about-our-collections/maps/mining-plans Mining plans. The National Library of Wales]

[[Category:History of British geology]]

[[Category:History of the British Geological Survey]]

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-04-09T14:18:05Z

Rtalbot: /* Resources */

=== Background to maps held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gass Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here.]

=== Legislation ===

Before the mid‑19th century, coal mines in Great Britain were not required to produce formal plans of their workings. This changed with the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850, which first required mine owners to keep a plan at each colliery. Further regulation followed with the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1872 and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872, which made it a legal requirement for abandonment plans to be submitted to the Secretary of State when a mine closed.

For non‑coal mines, the rules were less stringent—plans only needed to be deposited if at least 12 men had worked underground, a relaxation that continued until 1993. Early abandonment plans were typically basic, often showing only the boundaries of worked areas and omitting crucial details such as orientation, depth of workings, or extraction information. As a result, many historic plans lack the detail and consistency seen in later statutory mapping standards.

For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

Significant gaps exist in our understanding of historic mining activity. By the time formal legislation required the recording and deposition of mine plans, many thousands of workings had already been abandoned - leaving no reliable record of their extent or condition. As a result, knowledge of these early, unrecorded workings has often been lost.

Even where early plans do exist, they were produced using basic surveying methods and equipment that lacked the accuracy expected of modern mine plans. Records created before the 1872 statutory requirements are therefore often incomplete, inconsistent, or unreliable.

Because of these limitations, anyone using historical mining information should treat it with caution and always seek advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the detail contained within these records.
For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex.]

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link.]

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex.]

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk).]

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer.]

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans.]

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback.]

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

If you have coal mine plans which could be added to the MRAs collection, please get in contact through [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback the following feedback form.]

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

==== Resources ====

[https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com Mining Remediation Authority Map Viewer]
[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7e048740f0b62305b80432/ndoned_Mines_Catalogue_Metadata_V4.pdf Abandoned Mines Catalogue Metadata. Mining Remediation Authority.]

[[Category:History of British geology]]

[[Category:History of the British Geological Survey]]

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-04-09T14:16:49Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to maps held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gass Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here.]

=== Legislation ===

Before the mid‑19th century, coal mines in Great Britain were not required to produce formal plans of their workings. This changed with the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850, which first required mine owners to keep a plan at each colliery. Further regulation followed with the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1872 and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872, which made it a legal requirement for abandonment plans to be submitted to the Secretary of State when a mine closed.

For non‑coal mines, the rules were less stringent—plans only needed to be deposited if at least 12 men had worked underground, a relaxation that continued until 1993. Early abandonment plans were typically basic, often showing only the boundaries of worked areas and omitting crucial details such as orientation, depth of workings, or extraction information. As a result, many historic plans lack the detail and consistency seen in later statutory mapping standards.

For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

Significant gaps exist in our understanding of historic mining activity. By the time formal legislation required the recording and deposition of mine plans, many thousands of workings had already been abandoned - leaving no reliable record of their extent or condition. As a result, knowledge of these early, unrecorded workings has often been lost.

Even where early plans do exist, they were produced using basic surveying methods and equipment that lacked the accuracy expected of modern mine plans. Records created before the 1872 statutory requirements are therefore often incomplete, inconsistent, or unreliable.

Because of these limitations, anyone using historical mining information should treat it with caution and always seek advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the detail contained within these records.
For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex.]

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link.]

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex.]

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk).]

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer.]

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans.]

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback.]

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

If you have coal mine plans which could be added to the MRAs collection, please get in contact through [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback the following feedback form.]

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

==== Resources ====

[[Category:History of British geology]]

[[Category:History of the British Geological Survey]]

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-04-09T14:16:14Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to maps held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here.]

=== Legislation ===

Before the mid‑19th century, coal mines in Great Britain were not required to produce formal plans of their workings. This changed with the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850, which first required mine owners to keep a plan at each colliery. Further regulation followed with the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1872 and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872, which made it a legal requirement for abandonment plans to be submitted to the Secretary of State when a mine closed.

For non‑coal mines, the rules were less stringent—plans only needed to be deposited if at least 12 men had worked underground, a relaxation that continued until 1993. Early abandonment plans were typically basic, often showing only the boundaries of worked areas and omitting crucial details such as orientation, depth of workings, or extraction information. As a result, many historic plans lack the detail and consistency seen in later statutory mapping standards.

For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

Significant gaps exist in our understanding of historic mining activity. By the time formal legislation required the recording and deposition of mine plans, many thousands of workings had already been abandoned - leaving no reliable record of their extent or condition. As a result, knowledge of these early, unrecorded workings has often been lost.

Even where early plans do exist, they were produced using basic surveying methods and equipment that lacked the accuracy expected of modern mine plans. Records created before the 1872 statutory requirements are therefore often incomplete, inconsistent, or unreliable.

Because of these limitations, anyone using historical mining information should treat it with caution and always seek advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the detail contained within these records.
For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex.]

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link.]

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex.]

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk).]

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer.]

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans.]

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback.]

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

If you have coal mine plans which could be added to the MRAs collection, please get in contact through [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback the following feedback form.]

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

[[Category:History of British geology]]

[[Category:History of the British Geological Survey]]

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-04-09T14:07:31Z

Rtalbot:

=== Mine plans - their characteristics and history ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here.]

=== Legislation ===

Before the mid‑19th century, coal mines in Great Britain were not required to produce formal plans of their workings. This changed with the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850, which first required mine owners to keep a plan at each colliery. Further regulation followed with the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1872 and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872, which made it a legal requirement for abandonment plans to be submitted to the Secretary of State when a mine closed.

For non‑coal mines, the rules were less stringent—plans only needed to be deposited if at least 12 men had worked underground, a relaxation that continued until 1993. Early abandonment plans were typically basic, often showing only the boundaries of worked areas and omitting crucial details such as orientation, depth of workings, or extraction information. As a result, many historic plans lack the detail and consistency seen in later statutory mapping standards.

For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

Significant gaps exist in our understanding of historic mining activity. By the time formal legislation required the recording and deposition of mine plans, many thousands of workings had already been abandoned - leaving no reliable record of their extent or condition. As a result, knowledge of these early, unrecorded workings has often been lost.

Even where early plans do exist, they were produced using basic surveying methods and equipment that lacked the accuracy expected of modern mine plans. Records created before the 1872 statutory requirements are therefore often incomplete, inconsistent, or unreliable.

Because of these limitations, anyone using historical mining information should treat it with caution and always seek advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the detail contained within these records.
For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex.]

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link.]

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex.]

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk).]

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer.]

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans.]

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback.]

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

If you have coal mine plans which could be added to the MRAs collection, please get in contact through [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback the following feedback form.]

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

[[Category:History of British geology]]

[[Category:History of the British Geological Survey]]

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-04-09T09:59:31Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to plans held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here.]

=== Legislation ===

Before the mid‑19th century, coal mines in Great Britain were not required to produce formal plans of their workings. This changed with the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850, which first required mine owners to keep a plan at each colliery. Further regulation followed with the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1872 and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872, which made it a legal requirement for abandonment plans to be submitted to the Secretary of State when a mine closed.

For non‑coal mines, the rules were less stringent—plans only needed to be deposited if at least 12 men had worked underground, a relaxation that continued until 1993. Early abandonment plans were typically basic, often showing only the boundaries of worked areas and omitting crucial details such as orientation, depth of workings, or extraction information. As a result, many historic plans lack the detail and consistency seen in later statutory mapping standards.

For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

Significant gaps exist in our understanding of historic mining activity. By the time formal legislation required the recording and deposition of mine plans, many thousands of workings had already been abandoned - leaving no reliable record of their extent or condition. As a result, knowledge of these early, unrecorded workings has often been lost.

Even where early plans do exist, they were produced using basic surveying methods and equipment that lacked the accuracy expected of modern mine plans. Records created before the 1872 statutory requirements are therefore often incomplete, inconsistent, or unreliable.

Because of these limitations, anyone using historical mining information should treat it with caution and always seek advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the detail contained within these records.
For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex.]

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link.]

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex.]

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk).]

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer.]

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans.]

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback.]

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

If you have coal mine plans which could be added to the MRAs collection, please get in contact through [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback the following feedback form.]

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

[[Category:History of British geology]]

[[Category:History of the British Geological Survey]]

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-04-09T09:54:31Z

Rtalbot:

Mining Record Office — sources on the origin of the MRO

2026-04-09T09:38:52Z

Rtalbot:

== Location of the Mining Record Office at the Museum of Practical Geology ==

[[File:NLS OSTownPlansVII 72.JPG|600px|Map showing location of the Mining Record Office at the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street, London.]]

Within the Museum of of Practical Geology the Mining Record Office was located at the southern end of the upper gallery alongside the Geological Survey staff.

== Annual Reports of the Mining Record Office ==
For detailed year by year activity of the see the [https://webapps.bgs.ac.uk/data/publications/series.html?code=BB Annual reports of the Geological Survey] Titles slightly vary but occur in the general form: "Annual Report of the Director-General of the Geological Survey of the United Kingdom the Museum of Practical Geology, the Royal School of Mines, and the Mining Record Office"

== Timeline ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|| 1836
|| The initial impetus for the establishment of the Mining Records Office came from a great mining disaster that happened in Co. Durham in 1836, when water from old workings burst into a mine and many miners lost their lives.
|-
|| 1838
|| At a British Association Meeting in Newcastle in 1838 Sopwith read a paper urging the importance of collecting and preserving the plans of abandoned mines. A resolution in support of this proposal was carried in the Council of the British Association and an influential committee appointed to submit the matter to the Government
|-
|| 1839
|| In March 1839 the Government decided to place the work in the hands of Henry De la Beche and the Geological Survey and Museum of Practical Geology
|-
|| October 1840
|| T. B. Jordan appointed Keeper of Mining Records in October 1840. He had previously been Secretary of the Royal Polytechnic Society of Cornwall.
|-
|| 1840
|| The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London.
|-
|| 1840
|| It was decided that the Mining Records Office should contain an exhibit of models of coalfields, of various kinds of mines, and of the apparatus used in dressing mineral ores.
|-
|| 1850
|| The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
|| 1858
|| [https://webapps.bgs.ac.uk/data/publications/publication.html?id=19867987 A catalogue of the plans of the contents of the Mining Record Office in the Museum of Practical Geology consisting of plans and sections of mines and collieries, statistical and other documents]. London for HMSO, 1858
|-
|| 1865
|| [https://webapps.bgs.ac.uk/data/publications/publication.html?id=19865920 A descriptive catalogue of the geological, mining, and metallurgical models in the Museum of Practical Geology]. London for HMSO, 1865
|-
|| 1872
|| The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
|| 1883
|| To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
|}

==Home Office timeline — Key dates for catalogue publications ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
||1889
|| List of plans of the abandoned mines : deposited in the Home Office under the Coal and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Acts : corrected to the 30th June 1889 : prepared by direction of the Secretary of State for the Home Department. [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032822645&seq=4 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032822645&seq=4]
|-
||1897
|| List of plans of the abandoned mines : deposited in the Home Office under the Coal and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Acts including plans transferred from the late "Mining Record Office" Corrected to the 31st December 1896. London : Printed for HMSO, 1897. [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433087567164&seq=9 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433087567164&seq=9]
|-
||1904
|| List of plans of the abandoned mines : deposited in the Home Office under the Coal and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Acts including plans transferred from the late "Mining Record Office". Corrected to the 31st December 1903. London : Printed for HMSO, 1904. [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433087567156&seq=7 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433087567156&seq=7]
|-
||1928–1931
|| Catalogue of Plans of Abandoned Mines. London 5v Printed catalogue. HMSO, 1928–1931.

Volume I (Cheshire, Cumberland, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland, Westmorland and the Isle of Man)

Volume II (Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucester, Kent, Somerset, Stafford and Worcester.)

Volume III Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Norfolk, Northampton, Nottingham, Oxford, Warwick and York.

Volume IV Monmouth, Salop and Wales.

Volume V Scotland.
|-
|| 1932–1939
||“Catalogue of Plans of Abandoned Mines Supplement.” London : HMSO, 1932–1939.
|-
|}

== A number of publications have accounts of the origin and functions of the Mining Record Office — extracts ==

=== 1858 catalogue ===

A catalogue of the plans of the contents of the Mining Record Office in the Museum of Practical Geology consisting of plans and sections of mines and collieries, statistical and other documents. London for HMSO, 1858

::Preface:

::The Mining Record Office was established in 1838 as a department of the Museum Of Practical Geology, A representation having been made to the Government by the British Association for the Advancement of Science, after the meeting of that body at Newcastle-on-Tyne,-that it was of the highest importance to obtain and preserve plans and sections of all our subterranean explorations.

::This object has been steadily carried out, and the following catalogue will show, that of some of our more important mining districts nearly complete sets of plans have been obtained. Numerous documents—in many cases the only records existing of mines which have been long abandoned arc preserved in this office. In addition to the original design it was thought desirable to attempt a system of re gistering mineral statistics, which might fully illustrate the conditions of our mining industries. This has been successfully carried out, and it will be seen, that of numerous mines, the records of progress over a long series of year" have been secured.

::The Mining Record Office is essentially a progressive one. Large collections of plans, sect ions, and other mining documents are yearly added to its stores. It is entirely dependent upon the voluntary contributions of those who are interested in our mineral wealth ; and it should be generally known, that the loan of any drawings for copying" or the gift of tracings from plans and sections, or returns of the annual produce of any mine, colliery, or quarry, will be of considerable value.

::Any of the documents preserved in the Mining Record Office may be consulted, upon application being made to Mr. Robert Hunt, the Keeper of Mining Records, by any person who will show that he has some special interest in obtaining the information they contain. It will be obvious to every one that it is not possible to gratify mere idle curi osity by the production of these drawings, &c. without the sacrifice of much valuable time. It is, therefore, requested that persons applying for permission to examine the Records will furnish the Keeper with a sufficient explanation of their objects.

=== (From 1867 Descriptive Guide to the Museum of Practical Geology) ===

::Mining Record Office

::This branch of the establishment owes its origin to a representation made to the Government by the British Association at the meeting of that body at Newcastle-on-Tyne, in 1838.

::The objects to which this office is devoted are:-

::1st. ''The collection, arrangement, and preservation of all plans and sections of mines and collieries, ''both those which are now in process of work, and such as have been or may be abandoned.

::2nd. ''The collection and publication of statistical information connected with the mineral produce of the United Kingdom.'''

::3rd. ''The collection and registration of every kind of information, connected with the phenomena of our mineral formations of whatever description these may be.''

::The President of the Geological Society, the Rev. Dr. Buckland, in 1841, who took an active part in the establishment of the Mining Record Office, thus spoke of its objects :—" To the Keeper of these Records will be assigned the duty of arranging the documents which may be transmitted to him from all parts of the kingdom ''by any ''engineers, mineral surveyors, and proprietors of mines and coal works who may be willing to send them; particularly ''Maps, Sections, and Underground Plans, ''which will record the state of each mine when it is abandoned, for the information of those who, at a future period, may be disposed to bring it again into operation."

::At the present time the Mining Record Office contains a large col lection of the Plans and Sections of abandoned and of existing mines, and a considerable amount of information connected with the mine ral produce of the United Kingdom. To all parties who are specially interested in these industries, the collections of the office are opened upon application to the Keeper of Mining Records. Statistical returns of the mineral produce of these islands are published annu ally<sub>.</sub><nowiki>; these returns being indeed the only </nowiki>reliable information which is given to the public of a branch of British industry, the :value of which, independently of building stones and clays, may be estimated as exceeding 40,000,000''l''. per annum.

::A Catalogue of the Documents in the ''Mining Record Office ''has been published.

=== From Flett ===

'''Flett.J.S. The first hundred years of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. London:HMSO, 1937.'''

::Adjacent to the Museum of Economic Geology there was a Mining Records Office. T. B. Jordan, the officer in charge, was a skilled mechanic and instrument maker and had been Secretary of the Royal Polytechnic Society of Cornwall. Apparently the initial impetus for the establishment of the Mining Records Office came from a great mining disaster that happened in Co. Durham in 1836, when water from old workings burst into a mine and many miners lost their lives. At the British Association Meeting in Newcastle in 1838 Sopwith read a paper urging the importance of collecting and preserving the plans of abandoned mines. A resolution in support of this proposal was carried in the Council of the British Association and an influential committee appointed to submit the matter to the Government. It was urged that similar measures were already being taken by the Board of Woods and Forests in the case of the coal mines of the Forest of Dean, and in Northumberland by the Natural History Society of Newcastle. In March 1839 it was decided to place the work in the hands of De la Beche, and Jordan was appointed Keeper of Mining Records in October 1840.

::At the same time it was decided that the Mining Records Office should contain an exhibit of models of coalfields, of various kinds of mines, and of the apparatus used in dressing mineral ores. Apparently Jordan had a workshop connected with the Museum in which models were prepared. In addition to Sopwith’s models of the Forest of Dean coalfield, already mentioned, there were models of Dolcoath mine and of Northumbrian coal mines. Sopwith contributed a model of the Alston Moor lead-mining district and other models were presented. Some of them were of an elaborate construction showing shafts, levels and pumps. There were also models of many kinds of mining machinery, buddles, stamps, tilt hammers and jigs. Among this collection Ramsay’s original model of the Geology of the Island of Arran makes a somewhat incongruous appearance. A few maps and plans of mining districts were shown, and a series of sections illustrating the geology of railway-cuttings newly made for the rapidly spreading railway lines of England. A special committee of the British Association had been appointed to get together as large a collection of these railway sections as possible, and the sections which this committee collected were deposited in the Museum.

::In 1883, on the retirement of Robert Hunt, who had been the mainstay of the Mining Records Office for 38 years, that office was transferred to the Home Office and the ‘Mineral Statistics’ ceased to be published by the Geological Survey. The volume for 1881 was the last to appear. Hunt’s assistants, Meade and Jordan, became members of the Home Office staff.

=== From Bailey ===

Bailey, Sir Edward. Geological Survey of Great Britain. London: Thomas Murby, 1952.

::Another extremely important addition to the responsibilities of the Geological Survey dates from this period. In 1836 there was disastrous loss of life in a Co. Durham coal mine due to flooding from old forgotten workings. Following upon this the Council of the British Association approached the Government, who in 1839 placed De la Beche in charge of the collection and preservation of plans of abandoned mines. A Mining Record Office was established alongside the Museum, and in 1840 T. B. Jordan, who had previously been Secretary of the Royal Polytechnic Society of Cornwall, was appointed Keeper. This Record Office acted in some ways as an extension of the Museum, for it exhibited models of mines and mining machinery. It continued to function under the Director (presently Director General) of the Survey until 1883, when, as we shall see, it passed to the Mines Department of the Home Office.

::Unprecedented activity was shown during 1882 in the Mining Records Office, which it will be remembered was established under De la Beche's care in 1840, primarily as a precaution against loss of life consequent upon loss of information regarding abandoned underground workings liable to flooding. Robert Hunt, Keeper of the Records, visited Cornwall, Devon, the Midlands and Yorkshire to gather plans and statistics from coal, iron and lead mines. He claimed, probably correctly, that the collection under his charge was now more perfect than that of any other country in the world. It was a final effort. Next year, at the age of 76, Hunt retired ; and the Mining Records Office was transferred to the Department of Inspectors of Mines at the Home Office. This was a natural rearrangement from the point of view of safety ; and the mining plans can still be readily consulted at any time by the staff of the Geological Survey, a very important consideration. The last copy of Mineral Statistics issued by the Geological Survey covers 1881. Since then the publication has been continued by the Home Office, though until 1920 not in so complete and useful a form as previously.

=== National Archives ===
5. Maps and plans of mines and quarries

[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/mines-mining/ Mines and mining - The National Archives]

'''A comprehensive account of mine plans and their history in UK Government records'''

::The 1954 Mines and Quarries Act required working mines to deposit maps and plans with the Mining Record Office. Plans deposited under this and earlier statutes were distributed to local record offices in the 1990s. Enquiries concerning them should now be directed to the appropriate local record office. The National Archives holds many maps and some plans from before this time. Early examples include 16th century maps showing open-cast mines.

::The Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872 required owners to deposit plans of abandoned mines with the Home Secretary. This requirement applied to mines of all description except coal (for which legal obligation already existed under the Coal Mines Inspection Act 1850), stratified ironstone, shale, salt and firestone. Catalogues of the plans deposited under the 1872 Act were published in the 1920s by HMSO. The Home Office files in [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C8909 HO 45] include a few plans of abandoned mines.

=== North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers Nicholas Wood Memorial Library Individual mines a resource guide ===

[https://mininginstitute.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Individual-mines-Jan16.pdf North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers]

::Mine plans. Prior to 1840 there was no requirement for mining plans to be prepared and it was not until 1850 that The Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850 required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. 3 Individual mines January 2016 www.mininginstitute.org.uk

::In 1872 The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been fewer than 12 men employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993. All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, depth of workings or section extracted information to be shown. (From https://www.bgs.ac.uk/nocomico/history.htm)

[[History of the British Geological Survey]]

[[Category: History of the British Geological Survey]]

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-26T12:11:24Z

Rtalbot:

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-26T12:08:44Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to plans held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here.]

=== Legislation ===

Before the mid‑19th century, coal mines in Great Britain were not required to produce formal plans of their workings. This changed with the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850, which first required mine owners to keep a plan at each colliery. Further regulation followed with the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1872 and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872, which made it a legal requirement for abandonment plans to be submitted to the Secretary of State when a mine closed.

For non‑coal mines, the rules were less stringent—plans only needed to be deposited if at least 12 men had worked underground, a relaxation that continued until 1993. Early abandonment plans were typically basic, often showing only the boundaries of worked areas and omitting crucial details such as orientation, depth of workings, or extraction information. As a result, many historic plans lack the detail and consistency seen in later statutory mapping standards.

For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

Significant gaps exist in our understanding of historic mining activity. By the time formal legislation required the recording and deposition of mine plans, many thousands of workings had already been abandoned - leaving no reliable record of their extent or condition. As a result, knowledge of these early, unrecorded workings has often been lost.

Even where early plans do exist, they were produced using basic surveying methods and equipment that lacked the accuracy expected of modern mine plans. Records created before the 1872 statutory requirements are therefore often incomplete, inconsistent, or unreliable.

Because of these limitations, anyone using historical mining information should treat it with caution and always seek advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the detail contained within these records.
For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandonment Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex.]

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link.]

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex.]

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk).]

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer.]

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans.]

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback.]

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

If you have coal mine plans which could be added to the MRAs collection, please get in contact through [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback the following feedback form.]

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-26T12:08:02Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to plans held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here.]

=== Legislation ===

Before the mid‑19th century, coal mines in Great Britain were not required to produce formal plans of their workings. This changed with the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850, which first required mine owners to keep a plan at each colliery. Further regulation followed with the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1872 and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872, which made it a legal requirement for abandonment plans to be submitted to the Secretary of State when a mine closed.

For non‑coal mines, the rules were less stringent—plans only needed to be deposited if at least 12 men had worked underground, a relaxation that continued until 1993. Early abandonment plans were typically basic, often showing only the boundaries of worked areas and omitting crucial details such as orientation, depth of workings, or extraction information. As a result, many historic plans lack the detail and consistency seen in later statutory mapping standards.

For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

Significant gaps exist in our understanding of historic mining activity. By the time formal legislation required the recording and deposition of mine plans, many thousands of workings had already been abandoned - leaving no reliable record of their extent or condition. As a result, knowledge of these early, unrecorded workings has often been lost.

Even where early plans do exist, they were produced using basic surveying methods and equipment that lacked the accuracy expected of modern mine plans. Records created before the 1872 statutory requirements are therefore often incomplete, inconsistent, or unreliable.

Because of these limitations, anyone using historical mining information should treat it with caution and always seek advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the detail contained within these records.
For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandonment Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex.]

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link.]

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex.]

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk).]

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer.]

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans.]

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback.]

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

If you have coal mine plans which could be added to the MRAs collection, please get in contact through the following feedback form: [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback.]

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-26T12:04:33Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to plans held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here.]

=== Legislation ===

Before the mid‑19th century, coal mines in Great Britain were not required to produce formal plans of their workings. This changed with the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850, which first required mine owners to keep a plan at each colliery. Further regulation followed with the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1872 and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872, which made it a legal requirement for abandonment plans to be submitted to the Secretary of State when a mine closed.

For non‑coal mines, the rules were less stringent—plans only needed to be deposited if at least 12 men had worked underground, a relaxation that continued until 1993. Early abandonment plans were typically basic, often showing only the boundaries of worked areas and omitting crucial details such as orientation, depth of workings, or extraction information. As a result, many historic plans lack the detail and consistency seen in later statutory mapping standards.

For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

Significant gaps exist in our understanding of historic mining activity. By the time formal legislation required the recording and deposition of mine plans, many thousands of workings had already been abandoned - leaving no reliable record of their extent or condition. As a result, knowledge of these early, unrecorded workings has often been lost.

Even where early plans do exist, they were produced using basic surveying methods and equipment that lacked the accuracy expected of modern mine plans. Records created before the 1872 statutory requirements are therefore often incomplete, inconsistent, or unreliable.

Because of these limitations, anyone using historical mining information should treat it with caution and always seek advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the detail contained within these records.
For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandonment Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex.]

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link.]

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex.]

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk).]

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer.]

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans.]

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback.]

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-26T12:03:56Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to plans held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here.]

=== Legislation ===

Before the mid‑19th century, coal mines in Great Britain were not required to produce formal plans of their workings. This changed with the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850, which first required mine owners to keep a plan at each colliery. Further regulation followed with the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1872 and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872, which made it a legal requirement for abandonment plans to be submitted to the Secretary of State when a mine closed.

For non‑coal mines, the rules were less stringent—plans only needed to be deposited if at least 12 men had worked underground, a relaxation that continued until 1993. Early abandonment plans were typically basic, often showing only the boundaries of worked areas and omitting crucial details such as orientation, depth of workings, or extraction information. As a result, many historic plans lack the detail and consistency seen in later statutory mapping standards.

For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

Significant gaps exist in our understanding of historic mining activity. By the time formal legislation required the recording and deposition of mine plans, many thousands of workings had already been abandoned - leaving no reliable record of their extent or condition. As a result, knowledge of these early, unrecorded workings has often been lost.

Even where early plans do exist, they were produced using basic surveying methods and equipment that lacked the accuracy expected of modern mine plans. Records created before the 1872 statutory requirements are therefore often incomplete, inconsistent, or unreliable.

Because of these limitations, anyone using historical mining information should treat it with caution and always seek advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the detail contained within these records.
For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandonment Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex.]

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link.]

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex.]

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk).]

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer.]

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans.]

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback.]

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk.]

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us.]

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-26T11:52:38Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to plans held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here].

=== Legislation ===

Before the mid‑19th century, coal mines in Great Britain were not required to produce formal plans of their workings. This changed with the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850, which first required mine owners to keep a plan at each colliery. Further regulation followed with the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1872 and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872, which made it a legal requirement for abandonment plans to be submitted to the Secretary of State when a mine closed.

For non‑coal mines, the rules were less stringent—plans only needed to be deposited if at least 12 men had worked underground, a relaxation that continued until 1993. Early abandonment plans were typically basic, often showing only the boundaries of worked areas and omitting crucial details such as orientation, depth of workings, or extraction information. As a result, many historic plans lack the detail and consistency seen in later statutory mapping standards.

For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk].

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

Significant gaps exist in our understanding of historic mining activity. By the time formal legislation required the recording and deposition of mine plans, many thousands of workings had already been abandoned - leaving no reliable record of their extent or condition. As a result, knowledge of these early, unrecorded workings has often been lost.

Even where early plans do exist, they were produced using basic surveying methods and equipment that lacked the accuracy expected of modern mine plans. Records created before the 1872 statutory requirements are therefore often incomplete, inconsistent, or unreliable.

Because of these limitations, anyone using historical mining information should treat it with caution and always seek advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the detail contained within these records.
For more information please view our guide found at Mine plans - data.gov.uk.

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandonment Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex].

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link].

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex].

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]).

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer].

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans].

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback].

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk].

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-26T11:49:58Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to plans held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here].

=== Legislation ===

Before the mid‑19th century, coal mines in Great Britain were not required to produce formal plans of their workings. This changed with the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850, which first required mine owners to keep a plan at each colliery. Further regulation followed with the Coal Mines Regulation Act 1872 and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act 1872, which made it a legal requirement for abandonment plans to be submitted to the Secretary of State when a mine closed.

For non‑coal mines, the rules were less stringent—plans only needed to be deposited if at least 12 men had worked underground, a relaxation that continued until 1993. Early abandonment plans were typically basic, often showing only the boundaries of worked areas and omitting crucial details such as orientation, depth of workings, or extraction information. As a result, many historic plans lack the detail and consistency seen in later statutory mapping standards.

For more information please view our guide found at [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk].

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

It is unfortunate that many thousands of workings had been abandoned by the time this legislation was introduced and the knowledge and understanding of those unrecorded workings were, in many cases, lost forever. It is also worth noting that the earlier mine plans would have been produced using simple surveying equipment, which did not give the accuracy expected in mine plans of today.

Many records relating to mining, particularly those which occurred prior to 1872, are likely to be incomplete and unreliable. Users should always seek professional advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the information contained within the records.

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandonment Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex].

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link].

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex].

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]).

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer].

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans].

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback].

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk].

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-25T16:34:42Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to plans held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here].

=== Legislation ===

Prior to 1840, there was no requirement for mining plans to be prepared and it was not until 1850 that the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850 required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine.

In 1872, the Coal Mines Regulation Act and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 men employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993. All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, depth of workings or section extracted information to be shown.

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

It is unfortunate that many thousands of workings had been abandoned by the time this legislation was introduced and the knowledge and understanding of those unrecorded workings were, in many cases, lost forever. It is also worth noting that the earlier mine plans would have been produced using simple surveying equipment, which did not give the accuracy expected in mine plans of today.

Many records relating to mining, particularly those which occurred prior to 1872, are likely to be incomplete and unreliable. Users should always seek professional advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the information contained within the records.

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandonment Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex].

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link].

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex].

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]).

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer].

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans].

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback].

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk].

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-25T13:21:36Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to maps held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|right|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here].

=== Legislation ===

Prior to 1840, there was no requirement for mining plans to be prepared and it was not until 1850 that the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850 required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine.

In 1872, the Coal Mines Regulation Act and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 men employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993. All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, depth of workings or section extracted information to be shown.

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

It is unfortunate that many thousands of workings had been abandoned by the time this legislation was introduced and the knowledge and understanding of those unrecorded workings were, in many cases, lost forever. It is also worth noting that the earlier mine plans would have been produced using simple surveying equipment, which did not give the accuracy expected in mine plans of today.

Many records relating to mining, particularly those which occurred prior to 1872, are likely to be incomplete and unreliable. Users should always seek professional advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the information contained within the records.

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandonment Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex].

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link].

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex].

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]).

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer].

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans].

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback].

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk].

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

===== Gallery =====
<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001571.jpg|Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. BGS © UKRI.
P001531.jpg|Torwood Mine, Central Region. BGS © UKRI.
</gallery>

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-25T13:19:22Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to maps held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|center|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here].

=== Legislation ===

Prior to 1840, there was no requirement for mining plans to be prepared and it was not until 1850 that the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850 required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine.

In 1872, the Coal Mines Regulation Act and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 men employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993. All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, depth of workings or section extracted information to be shown.

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

It is unfortunate that many thousands of workings had been abandoned by the time this legislation was introduced and the knowledge and understanding of those unrecorded workings were, in many cases, lost forever. It is also worth noting that the earlier mine plans would have been produced using simple surveying equipment, which did not give the accuracy expected in mine plans of today.

Many records relating to mining, particularly those which occurred prior to 1872, are likely to be incomplete and unreliable. Users should always seek professional advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the information contained within the records.

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandonment Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex].

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link].

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex].

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]).

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer].

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans].

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback].

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk].

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

<gallery>
P528149.jpg|Caption1
P001571.jpg|Caption2
P001531.jpg|Caption2
</gallery>

File:P001531.jpg

2026-03-25T13:14:48Z

Rtalbot: Torwood Mine, Central Region. Opencast and mine workings for fireclay at Torwood. Fireclay is usually used in the refractory industry for making heat-resistant bricks to line furnaces in the iron and steel industry. Photographer: Bain, T.S. Date taken: 01/01/1991. Copyright: NERC/BGS.

== Summary ==
Torwood Mine, Central Region. Opencast and mine workings for fireclay at Torwood. Fireclay is usually used in the refractory industry for making heat-resistant bricks to line furnaces in the iron and steel industry. Photographer: Bain, T.S. Date taken: 01/01/1991. Copyright: NERC/BGS.
== Licensing ==
__notoc__
{|class="wikitable" style="width:100% style="background:#f0f8ff; font-size:80%"
| Download of 1000 x 1000 pixel images is free for all non-commercial use - all we ask in return is for you to acknowledge BGS when using our images. Click our Terms and Conditions link below for information on acknowledgement text, and to find out about using our images commercially.

====Copyright====

The images featured on this site unless otherwise indicated are copyright material of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), of which the British Geological Survey is a component body. The British Geological Survey encourages the use of its material in promoting geological and environmental sciences.
The images may be reproduced free of charge for any non-commercial use in any format or medium provided they are reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading or derogatory context.
Where any images on this site are being republished or copied to others, the source of the material must be identified and the copyright status acknowledged.
The permission to reproduce UKRI protected material does not extend to any images on this site which are identified as being the copyright of a third party. Authorisation to reproduce such material must be obtained from the copyright holders concerned.

====Non-commercial Use====

Use of the images downloaded from this site and reproduced digitally or otherwise may only be used for non-commercial purposes, which are:-

* Private study or research for a non-commercial purpose
* Education – for teaching, preparation and examination purposes

When using the images please credit 'British Geological Survey' and include the catalogue reference ('P Number') of the item to allow others to access the original image or document.
Non-commercial users of the images from this site are restricted to downloading no more than 30 images, without seeking further permission from [mailto:enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]

====Commercial Use====

For commercial use of these images for which higher resolution images are available, individual permissions and/or licences arrangements should be agreed by contacting [mailto:enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]

Commercial use will include publications in books (including educational books), newspapers, journals, magazines, CDs and DVDs, etc, where a cover charge is applied; broadcasts on TV, film and theatre; and display in trade fairs, galleries, etc. If you are in doubt as to whether your intended use is commercial, please contact [mailto:enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]

====Warranty====
Use of the images downloaded from this site is at the users own risk. UKRI gives no warranty as to the quality of the images or the medium on which they are provided or their suitability for any use.

====Ordnance Survey topography====
Maps and diagrams in Earthwise use topography based on Ordnance Survey mapping. The National Grid and other Ordnance Survey data ©Crown Copyright and database rights 2015. Ordnance Survey Licence No. 100021290 EUL.
|}
[[Category:License tags]]

File:P001571.jpg

2026-03-25T13:13:29Z

Rtalbot: Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. The 670 m. level B1 stope. The slusher pulley and wire rope system allowing forward and backward pull of slusher. Date taken: 01/01/1986. Copyright: NERC/BGS.

== Summary ==
Foss Barite Mine, Aberfeldy, Perthshire. The 670 m. level B1 stope. The slusher pulley and wire rope system allowing forward and backward pull of slusher. Date taken: 01/01/1986. Copyright: NERC/BGS.
== Licensing ==
__notoc__
{|class="wikitable" style="width:100% style="background:#f0f8ff; font-size:80%"
| Download of 1000 x 1000 pixel images is free for all non-commercial use - all we ask in return is for you to acknowledge BGS when using our images. Click our Terms and Conditions link below for information on acknowledgement text, and to find out about using our images commercially.

====Copyright====

The images featured on this site unless otherwise indicated are copyright material of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), of which the British Geological Survey is a component body. The British Geological Survey encourages the use of its material in promoting geological and environmental sciences.
The images may be reproduced free of charge for any non-commercial use in any format or medium provided they are reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading or derogatory context.
Where any images on this site are being republished or copied to others, the source of the material must be identified and the copyright status acknowledged.
The permission to reproduce UKRI protected material does not extend to any images on this site which are identified as being the copyright of a third party. Authorisation to reproduce such material must be obtained from the copyright holders concerned.

====Non-commercial Use====

Use of the images downloaded from this site and reproduced digitally or otherwise may only be used for non-commercial purposes, which are:-

* Private study or research for a non-commercial purpose
* Education – for teaching, preparation and examination purposes

When using the images please credit 'British Geological Survey' and include the catalogue reference ('P Number') of the item to allow others to access the original image or document.
Non-commercial users of the images from this site are restricted to downloading no more than 30 images, without seeking further permission from [mailto:enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]

====Commercial Use====

For commercial use of these images for which higher resolution images are available, individual permissions and/or licences arrangements should be agreed by contacting [mailto:enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]

Commercial use will include publications in books (including educational books), newspapers, journals, magazines, CDs and DVDs, etc, where a cover charge is applied; broadcasts on TV, film and theatre; and display in trade fairs, galleries, etc. If you are in doubt as to whether your intended use is commercial, please contact [mailto:enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]

====Warranty====
Use of the images downloaded from this site is at the users own risk. UKRI gives no warranty as to the quality of the images or the medium on which they are provided or their suitability for any use.

====Ordnance Survey topography====
Maps and diagrams in Earthwise use topography based on Ordnance Survey mapping. The National Grid and other Ordnance Survey data ©Crown Copyright and database rights 2015. Ordnance Survey Licence No. 100021290 EUL.
|}
[[Category:License tags]]

File:P528149.jpg

2026-03-25T13:11:24Z

Rtalbot: Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. Date taken: 25/06/1905. Copyright: NERC/BGS.

== Summary ==
Plan of Wanlockhead Mine, Dumfriesshire. Date taken: 25/06/1905. Copyright: NERC/BGS.
== Licensing ==
__notoc__
{|class="wikitable" style="width:100% style="background:#f0f8ff; font-size:80%"
| Download of 1000 x 1000 pixel images is free for all non-commercial use - all we ask in return is for you to acknowledge BGS when using our images. Click our Terms and Conditions link below for information on acknowledgement text, and to find out about using our images commercially.

====Copyright====

The images featured on this site unless otherwise indicated are copyright material of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), of which the British Geological Survey is a component body. The British Geological Survey encourages the use of its material in promoting geological and environmental sciences.
The images may be reproduced free of charge for any non-commercial use in any format or medium provided they are reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading or derogatory context.
Where any images on this site are being republished or copied to others, the source of the material must be identified and the copyright status acknowledged.
The permission to reproduce UKRI protected material does not extend to any images on this site which are identified as being the copyright of a third party. Authorisation to reproduce such material must be obtained from the copyright holders concerned.

====Non-commercial Use====

Use of the images downloaded from this site and reproduced digitally or otherwise may only be used for non-commercial purposes, which are:-

* Private study or research for a non-commercial purpose
* Education – for teaching, preparation and examination purposes

When using the images please credit 'British Geological Survey' and include the catalogue reference ('P Number') of the item to allow others to access the original image or document.
Non-commercial users of the images from this site are restricted to downloading no more than 30 images, without seeking further permission from [mailto:enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]

====Commercial Use====

For commercial use of these images for which higher resolution images are available, individual permissions and/or licences arrangements should be agreed by contacting [mailto:enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]

Commercial use will include publications in books (including educational books), newspapers, journals, magazines, CDs and DVDs, etc, where a cover charge is applied; broadcasts on TV, film and theatre; and display in trade fairs, galleries, etc. If you are in doubt as to whether your intended use is commercial, please contact [mailto:enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]

====Warranty====
Use of the images downloaded from this site is at the users own risk. UKRI gives no warranty as to the quality of the images or the medium on which they are provided or their suitability for any use.

====Ordnance Survey topography====
Maps and diagrams in Earthwise use topography based on Ordnance Survey mapping. The National Grid and other Ordnance Survey data ©Crown Copyright and database rights 2015. Ordnance Survey Licence No. 100021290 EUL.
|}
[[Category:License tags]]

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-25T13:06:30Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to maps held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|center|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans made available here].

=== Legislation ===

Prior to 1840, there was no requirement for mining plans to be prepared and it was not until 1850 that the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850 required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine.

In 1872, the Coal Mines Regulation Act and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 men employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993. All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, depth of workings or section extracted information to be shown.

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

It is unfortunate that many thousands of workings had been abandoned by the time this legislation was introduced and the knowledge and understanding of those unrecorded workings were, in many cases, lost forever. It is also worth noting that the earlier mine plans would have been produced using simple surveying equipment, which did not give the accuracy expected in mine plans of today.

Many records relating to mining, particularly those which occurred prior to 1872, are likely to be incomplete and unreliable. Users should always seek professional advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the information contained within the records.

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandonment Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/GSNI_Geoindex/home.html GSNI GeoIndex].

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be [https://mine-plans.bgs.ac.uk/ accessed via this link].

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on [https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html the BGS GeoIndex].

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries ([https://enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]).

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at [https://datamine-cauk.hub.arcgis.com/ Mining Remediation Authority map viewer].

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264269/purchase-plans purchase plans].

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found [https://submit.forms.service.gov.uk/form/264426/plan-feedback at plan feedback].

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk].

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-25T13:03:42Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to maps held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|center|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and made available here.

=== Legislation ===

Prior to 1840, there was no requirement for mining plans to be prepared and it was not until 1850 that the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850 required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine.

In 1872, the Coal Mines Regulation Act and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 men employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993. All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, depth of workings or section extracted information to be shown.

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

It is unfortunate that many thousands of workings had been abandoned by the time this legislation was introduced and the knowledge and understanding of those unrecorded workings were, in many cases, lost forever. It is also worth noting that the earlier mine plans would have been produced using simple surveying equipment, which did not give the accuracy expected in mine plans of today.

Many records relating to mining, particularly those which occurred prior to 1872, are likely to be incomplete and unreliable. Users should always seek professional advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the information contained within the records.

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandonment Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the GSNI GeoIndex.

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be accessed via this link.

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on the BGS GeoIndex .

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries (enquiries@bgs.ac.uk).

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at Mining Remediation Authority map viewer.

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at purchase plans.

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found at plan feedback.

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through [https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/0f9398e0-785b-48ab-8de3-5243de704b21/mine-plans Mine plans - data.gov.uk].

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information [https://ngdc@bgs.ac.uk please contact us].

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-25T11:52:46Z

Rtalbot:

=== Background to maps held by the British Geological Survey ===

Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national database of these records. A variety of collections, catalogues and indexes exist in disparate public and private hands but individually, these cover only parts of the total holding (thought to be in excess of 40 000 documents).

[[File:P528081.jpg|thumb|center|Historical mining plan of Gas Water baryte mine, near Cumnock, East Ayrshire. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Background to the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandoned Mines Catalogue ===

Coal mining has long shaped the landscape of Great Britain with extensive underground extraction of coal and associated minerals taking place across England, Scotland, and Wales. Over this long history, thousands of mine plans were created – ranging from early, minimal sketches to detailed, standardised surveys – to record the location of workings, shafts, roadways, and geological features. These documents form an essential record of what lies beneath the ground.

Legal requirements to produce and deposit coal mine abandonment plans began in the 19th century and were strengthened through successive mining regulation and legislation. As a result, a substantial national archive of coal-related plans was amassed, later inherited and safeguarded by the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority), and providing the most comprehensive and coherent dataset of underground working records available in Great Britain. Today the collection contains over 120,500 scanned plans representing centuries of coal mining activity, each varying in style, completeness, and accuracy depending on the era, surveying practices, and purpose for which it was created.

As well as being historical documents, such plans remain pertinent today in supporting safer land development, environmental management, academic research, and a deeper understanding of Britain’s industrial past.

A comprehensive guide to understanding coal mine plans and orientating them has been produced and made available here.

=== Legislation ===

Prior to 1840, there was no requirement for mining plans to be prepared and it was not until 1850 that the Inspection of Coal Mines Act 1850 required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine.

In 1872, the Coal Mines Regulation Act and the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 men employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993. All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, depth of workings or section extracted information to be shown.

[[Image:P005055.jpg|thumb|Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. BGS © UKRI.]]

=== Gaps in our knowledge ===

It is unfortunate that many thousands of workings had been abandoned by the time this legislation was introduced and the knowledge and understanding of those unrecorded workings were, in many cases, lost forever. It is also worth noting that the earlier mine plans would have been produced using simple surveying equipment, which did not give the accuracy expected in mine plans of today.

Many records relating to mining, particularly those which occurred prior to 1872, are likely to be incomplete and unreliable. Users should always seek professional advice from a suitably qualified mining surveyor or engineer before relying on the information contained within the records.

=== Hazards ===

Underground mining activity leaves subsurface voids and understanding their presence helps to ensure that land and property are managed safely and with confidence. Awareness of how historical workings may influence ground conditions also supports informed decision-making for property owners, developers, and communities. In some areas, spoil from former mineral workings can interact with local environmental conditions, so recognising these features contributes to effective land stewardship.

If you need to raise a concern relating to former coal mining activity, you can contact the Mining Remediation Authority on 0800 288 4242 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Examples of issues that people typically report include changes around former mine entries, unexpected ground movement, or gas or water emerging from an unsealed abandoned mine.

Mining records can provide valuable cultural and historical insight into past mineral extraction and remain an important resource for geological surveying and scientific research. Whilst this information supports a range of disciplines, maintaining public safety, supporting long-term resilience of land and infrastructure, and helping to uphold confidence in property use are key drivers for developing a consistent and accessible national database of mine plans.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ History of coal mining plans
|-
! Header text !! Header text
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1840 || The first Mining Records Office (MRO) was established by the Government for the voluntary registration and preservation of abandoned mine plans. The office was housed in the then newly established Museum of Practical Geology in London. A few plans, sections and even models were deposited but the vast majority chose not to deposit anything.
|-
| 1850 || The Select Committee on Accidents report led to the passing of the Inspection of Coal Mines Act in 1850 for Great Britain. The Act required a coal mine owner to keep a plan at each mine. This act was meant to be temporary and stay in force for only five years but was re-enacted in 1855.
|-
| 1872 || The Coal Mines Regulation Act and Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act made the deposition of plans of abandoned mines with the Secretary of State a statutory requirement. Both acts placed an obligation on mine owners to deposit their plans within a period of three months from the date of abandonment. Non-coal mines were not required to deposit plans if there had been less than 12 people employed below ground and this relaxation was perpetuated in all subsequent legislation until 1993.

All that was required to be shown on these plans were the boundaries of the mine workings up to the time of abandonment. There was no requirement for orientation with the surface, or depth or section information to be shown. Once deposited, no person except a mines inspector could view the plans for a period of 10 years.
|-
| 1883 || To establish a closer association between the MRO and the Inspectorate of Mines, the MRO was transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology to the Home Office.
|-
| 1886 || The first listing of plans deposited with the Home Office was published. The listing differentiated between open and closed plans depending on whether they had been held for 10 years.
|-
| 1923-1931 || There were two accidents, one in Stirlingshire in September 1923, resulting in the death of 40 workers, and one in Northumberland in March 1925, when 38 people were killed. Both accidents were as a consequence of an inrush of water from old workings. In July 1925 the Secretary for Mines made a widespread appeal for plans of old workings not covered by the statutory requirements or for the supply of information where it was not desired to give up the plans. The appeal was widely responded to and particulars of such plans were included in a new cataloguing system that was published in five volumes between 1928 and 1931.

The catalogue was based on the 1:10 560 Ordnance Survey county map series, with each three miles by two miles map area subdivided into a graticule of 96 squares with alphanumeric references. This cataloguing system has been maintained ever since.
|-
| 1939 || All the plans and records were transferred to Buxton from London and the MRO operated from there for the duration of the Second World War and for some time afterwards.
|-
| 1950 || A Memorandum of Agreement was made between the ministry and the recently formed National Coal Board (NCB). Under this agreement, coal plans were segregated from the plans of other minerals and transferred to the custodianship of the National Coal Board (NCB). The collection of coal plans was then further split into regional areas to allow the plans to be made more easily accessible.

Oil shale abandonment plans were transferred to Scottish Oils Ltd. The plans for ‘minerals other than coal and oil shale’ were then returned to London and stored at Thames House, Millbank.
|-
| 1960 || Scottish Oils Ltd. closed and oil shale plans were transferred to NCB Edinburgh.
|-
| 1973 || A national appeal for plans was made following the Lofthouse Colliery disaster. Non-coal plans for Cornwall were transferred to the Cornwall Record Office under a Memorandum of Agreement between the minister and Cornwall County Council.
|-
| 1975 || The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was set up and took over the ministry’s role of arranging archiving of abandonment plans.
|-
| 1980 || Plans of mines other than coal and oil shale in Scotland were transferred to BGS Edinburgh.
|-
| 1984 || Remaining non-coal abandonment plans were transferred from London to HSE Bootle, Merseyside.
|-
| 1989-1993 || English and Welsh non-coal plans from Bootle were dispersed to county record offices. Those for Cumbria were temporarily held by BGS Edinburgh between 1991 and 2000.
|-
| 1992-1993 || The collections of coal and oil shale abandonment plans were re-united at British Coal’s Bretby site near Burton-on-Trent. They were inherited by the Coal Authority on privatisation of the coal industry in 1994 under a new Memorandum of Agreement with the HSE.
|-
| 1993 || The anomaly, perpetuated in legislation made down the years since 1872, whereby abandonment plans were not required from non-coal mines employing less than 12 people, was removed by the Management and Administration of Safety and Health in Mines Regulations.
|-
| 2001 || The collection of coal abandonment plans was transferred to the Coal Authority’s headquarters at Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.
|-
| 2017 || BGS receives scanned copies of Scottish abandoned mine plans to facilitate a viewing service for Scotland at its Scotland office.
|-
| 2026 || MRA redeposits scans of the full collection abandoned mine plans of Scotland, England and Wales to the BGS who makes them available via their online mine plan search.
|}

=== Background to the Mining Plans Catalogue Search: ===

The Mining Plans Catalogue Search was initially established in 2002 as a result of a partnership between a group of public bodies including the Health and Safety Executive, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority ), the BGS, the National Archives, the Mineral Valuer (part of the Valuation Office) and the Camborne School of Mines, who agreed to work together to create a national database of non-coal mine plans.

Whilst this partnership no longer exists, the BGS and the Mining Remediation Authority have continued to work together to make information about the extent of historic underground mining in Britain more accessible. Thus, from 2026 BGS will host and make available the Mining Remediation Authority’s Abandonment Mines Catalogue, providing easy access to all of the available mine plans held by both organisations in one application.

The search includes plans for Great Britain and, where available, the Isle of Man. The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) holds a comprehensive collection of Northern Irish mine plans accessible via the GSNI GeoIndex.

==== Mine Plan Catalogue Search ====

The Mine Plan Catalogue Search contains the following:

* Non-coal plans held at the British Geological Survey (BGS)
*
* Mine plans held at Mining Remediation Authority
*
* Plans held at other locations

All plans held at the Mining Remediation Authority have scans. Only some plans held at BGS and other external sources have scans.

The mine plan catalogue search can be accessed via this link.

==== British Geological Survey non-coal mine plans ====

A limited number of BGS plans can be identified from a spatial search on the BGS GeoIndex .

Copies of BGS held plans can be purchased from BGS Enquiries (enquiries@bgs.ac.uk).

==== Mining Remediation Authority mine plans ====
Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be additionally identified by a spatial search on the Map Viewer found at Mining Remediation Authority map viewer.

Copies of plans can be obtained by completing the following GOV.UK form found at purchase plans.

To report an issue or provide an update to a Mining Remediation Authority mine plan please use the GOV.UK form found at plan feedback.

More information regarding understanding and orientating Mining Remediation Authority mine plans can be found through Mine plans - data.gov.uk.

Please note that the Mining Remediation Authority classify all plans under the broad category of ‘coal and associated minerals’, so do not identify specific minerals, in contrast to the BGS.

==== Updates to the existing plans database ====

Please help us improve the map search. If you have mine plans or related information that you are willing to allow us to add to our database, or if you wish to report errors, please contact us.

We also welcome information that allows us to provide more accurate information on unlocated or poorly located plans. If you have such information please contact us.

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-25T11:51:03Z

Rtalbot:

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-25T11:48:41Z

Rtalbot:

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-25T11:19:28Z

Rtalbot:

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-25T11:05:17Z

Rtalbot:

History of the BGS Mine Plans Search

2026-03-25T11:02:56Z

Rtalbot: Created page with "=== Background to maps held by the British Geological Survey === Mining has occurred in Great Britain since approximately 2700 BCE. A diverse range of minerals has been extracted by underground mining, from industrial minerals such as limestone to precious metals like gold. Plans, sections and shaft information exist, recording many of these workings. However, with the exception of coal mining, there has been no coordinated effort to catalogue and create a national dat..."

File:P005055.jpg

2026-03-25T10:42:41Z

Rtalbot: Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. Photographer: Bain, T.S. Date taken: 01/01/1988. Copyright: NERC/BGS.

== Summary ==
Force Crag Mine, Braithwaite, Cumbria. Photographer: Bain, T.S. Date taken: 01/01/1988. Copyright: NERC/BGS.
== Licensing ==
__notoc__
{|class="wikitable" style="width:100% style="background:#f0f8ff; font-size:80%"
| Download of 1000 x 1000 pixel images is free for all non-commercial use - all we ask in return is for you to acknowledge BGS when using our images. Click our Terms and Conditions link below for information on acknowledgement text, and to find out about using our images commercially.

====Copyright====

The images featured on this site unless otherwise indicated are copyright material of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), of which the British Geological Survey is a component body. The British Geological Survey encourages the use of its material in promoting geological and environmental sciences.
The images may be reproduced free of charge for any non-commercial use in any format or medium provided they are reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading or derogatory context.
Where any images on this site are being republished or copied to others, the source of the material must be identified and the copyright status acknowledged.
The permission to reproduce UKRI protected material does not extend to any images on this site which are identified as being the copyright of a third party. Authorisation to reproduce such material must be obtained from the copyright holders concerned.

====Non-commercial Use====

Use of the images downloaded from this site and reproduced digitally or otherwise may only be used for non-commercial purposes, which are:-

* Private study or research for a non-commercial purpose
* Education – for teaching, preparation and examination purposes

When using the images please credit 'British Geological Survey' and include the catalogue reference ('P Number') of the item to allow others to access the original image or document.
Non-commercial users of the images from this site are restricted to downloading no more than 30 images, without seeking further permission from [mailto:enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]

====Commercial Use====

For commercial use of these images for which higher resolution images are available, individual permissions and/or licences arrangements should be agreed by contacting [mailto:enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]

Commercial use will include publications in books (including educational books), newspapers, journals, magazines, CDs and DVDs, etc, where a cover charge is applied; broadcasts on TV, film and theatre; and display in trade fairs, galleries, etc. If you are in doubt as to whether your intended use is commercial, please contact [mailto:enquiries@bgs.ac.uk enquiries@bgs.ac.uk]

====Warranty====
Use of the images downloaded from this site is at the users own risk. UKRI gives no warranty as to the quality of the images or the medium on which they are provided or their suitability for any use.

====Ordnance Survey topography====
Maps and diagrams in Earthwise use topography based on Ordnance Survey mapping. The National Grid and other Ordnance Survey data ©Crown Copyright and database rights 2015. Ordnance Survey Licence No. 100021290 EUL.
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File:P528081.jpg

2026-03-25T10:33:13Z

Rtalbot: Gass Water barytes mines, diagrammatic horizontal sections showing levels driven in main vein and in veins at No. 2 South Mine, Ayrshire. Date taken: 25/06/1905. Owner: Unknown Copyright: NERC/BGS

== Summary ==
Gass Water barytes mines, diagrammatic horizontal sections showing levels driven in main vein and in veins at No. 2 South Mine, Ayrshire.
Date taken: 25/06/1905.
Owner: Unknown
Copyright: NERC/BGS
== Licensing ==
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====Ordnance Survey topography====
Maps and diagrams in Earthwise use topography based on Ordnance Survey mapping. The National Grid and other Ordnance Survey data ©Crown Copyright and database rights 2015. Ordnance Survey Licence No. 100021290 EUL.
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User:Rtalbot

2022-08-17T08:39:27Z

Rtalbot: Created page with "Rtalbot's sandbox"

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