Craig Soales
Bloomery (Post Medieval), Lead Mine (18th Century), Silver Mine (18th Century)
Site Name Craig Soales
Classification Bloomery (Post Medieval), Lead Mine (18th Century), Silver Mine (18th Century)
Canmore ID 35237
Site Number NO58SW 2
NGR NO 504 802
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/35237
- Council Angus
- Parish Lochlee
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Angus
- Former County Angus
NO58SW 2 504 802.
(Name centred: NO 5050 8018) Old Mine (NAT).
OS 6" map, Forfarshire and Angus, 2nd ed., (1902)
A disused silver (Ordnance Survey Name Book [ONB] 1861) or lead ore (Groome 1901, NSA 1845) mine which is noted in early times and was last worked by the South Sea Company in 1728, the quantities proving unremunerative. Traces of workings still remain but the mouth of the mine is filled with fallen debris and is no longer discernible.
F H Groome 1901; Name Book 1861; A Jervise 1882; New Statistical Account (NSA) 1845.
In the area centred NO 504 802, are the remains of disused silver and lead (information from Miss M F Michie, Glenesk Trust Folk Museum, The Retreat, Glenesk, Brechin) workings including about sixteen surface quarry pits up to 8.0m in diameter, and 1.5m deep.
Within this group of pits are the footings of a rectangular building 5.4m x 4.4m with a SE entrance at which burnt stones can be seen. Probably a smelting floor or bloomery.
To the south is a deep natural ravine which has been enlarged by quarrying. Large amounts of stone refuse lie in it. Towards the east end are three small circular structures c.4.0m in diameter, c.l.0m deep and full of refuse. They are similar in appearance to corn-drying kilns but are more likely to be bloomeries. There is no trace of slag.
Visited by OS (N K B) 13 November 1967.
