Balkeachy Mine

NX 1829 9337 A small copper mine on the banks of the Bynehill Burn. It is marked ‘copper mine’ on John Thompson’s map of 1832 and an ‘Old shaft’ is shown on the1st Edition 6" to the mile OS map of 1858. Its history is otherwise unknown. Surviving features comprise:

NX 1829 9337 Flooded opencast working, 5 x 7m on the N bank of the stream with a collapsed level in the NW corner.

NX 1831 9338 Spoil tip, E of the opencast working. A parallel line of wooden stakes in the streambed adjacent to the tip probably represents a timber revetment.

NX 1823 9332 Shaft hollow, overlain by stone field dyke. Perhaps a trial working to test the SW extent of the copper vein.

NX 1823 9334 Turf and earth dam, constructed across the stream to create a reservoir – now drained – to the SW. A well constructed lade runs NE from the dam and terminates at NX 1837 9339. The dam and lade may be unrelated to the mining operations.

NX 1824 9338 Turf bank enclosure, 12 x 12m, with internal ditch and two possible clearance cairns inside. The enclosure is built on steeply sloping ground and is open on the SE or downhill side. Probably an agricultural feature.