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Easdale, An Lub Chlear, Quarry

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Slate Quarry (Period Unassigned)

Site Name Easdale, An Lub Chlear, Quarry

Classification Slate Quarry (Period Unassigned)

Alternative Name(s) The Clear Pool

Canmore ID 353995

Site Number NM71NW 117

NGR NM 73492 17128

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/353995

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Bluesky International Limited 2025. Public Sector Viewing Terms

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Digital Images

Easdale, Slate Quarries General view from E showing flooded quarry NM71NW 117 from south east
Easdale, Slate Quarries General view from E showing flooded quarry NM71NW 117 from south eastDamaged sea defence walling to the west of quarry NM71NW 117, at NM7344 1712view from north westQuarry NM71NW 117, view from southQuarries NM71NW 117, NM71NW 118 (both flooded) and NM71NW120, west track and enclosure, view from high ground to eastOblique aerial view from south east showing Klondyke Quarry (right) with An Lub Chlear and An Toll mar Luaty quarries beyond, Fang Quarry (left) and walled garden enclosures which pre-date the quarries in this area.Oblique aerial view of An Toll Mar Luaty and An Lub Chlear quarries from the west.Oblique aerial view showing edges of An Lub Chlear and An Toll Mar Luaty quarries and associated buildingsOblique aerial view from north east showing flooded quarries Fang, Klondyke, An Lub Chlear and An Toll Mar LuatyOblique aerial viewQuarry NM71NW 117, view from south showing retaining wall of concrete at NM73472 17180Quarry NM71NW 117, view from south eastSouth garden enclosures to north east of quarry no.7 (NM71NW 118), and enclosures at NM75573 17057 and NM73559 17074, view from high ground to east. Part of NM71NW 120 can also be seen in right of image with some of its working areas identifiable at the lower level.Oblique aerial view from south of An Lub Chlear Quarry, Klondyke Quarry and the slate waste heap/ tipping NM71NW 149 Oblique aerial view of flooded quarry, An Lub Chlear (opened post - 1872).Oblique aerial view of the west end of the islandQuarry NM71NW 117, view from north westQuarry NM71NW 117 (An Lub Chlear), general view from hill to eastQuarries NM71NW 117, 118 and 119.01 (An Lub Chlear, Fang and and Rudbha Nam Faoileann), and Klondye (NM71NW 120, foreground), view from hill to eastOblique aerial view of Fang and An Lub Chlear quarries and south west area of EasdaleOblique aerial view of west quarriesOblique aerial view of An Lub Chlear quarryQuarry NM71NW 117, view of walling on south side showing former tramway route above.Quarry NM71NW 117, view from southOblique aerial view shwping Fang and An Lub Chlear quarries. A tramway (NM71NW 127.02) is also visible in the image (right foreground).Oblique aerial view of quarries An Toll Mar Luaty and An Lub ChlearOblique aerial view of west quarries from south with Windmill Quarry in backgroundOblique aerial view of the western end of the island showing Fang Quarry, An Lub Chlear Quarry and the post-1899 extension of the tramway built to serve the western quarries post-1872.Oblique aerial view of west coastal coastal and deep quarryingOblique aerial view from south west of south west spoil, walls and workings landscape, Fang Quarry and An Lub Chlear Quarry, village and HarbourOblique aerial viewOblique aerial view showing western quarries from northOblique aerial view showing the quarries Fang, An lub chlear, An Toll mar Luaty and Klondyke (dry). These all post date 1871 and pre-date 1898.Oblique aerial view south west area of EasdaleOblique aerial view of Fang and An Lub Chlear quarriesOblique aerial view of the south western part of the island. The ridge running down the centre of the west of the island can be clearly seen , with quarries either side.Oblique aerial view from west with Fang and An Lub Chlear quarries nearest the camraOblique aerial view showing Fang and An Lub Chlear Quarries and post-1899 tramway extension.Oblique aerial viewQuarry NM71NW 117.00, detail of stonework in east cornerOblique aerial view Oblique aerial view showing Klondyke Quarry with An Lub Chlear and An Toll mar Luaty quarries beyond from eastOblique aerial view of east end of Easdale showing Doune Quarry (foreground), Hill Quarry (right), An Toll Mar Luaty Quarry with later slate waste dumped into it, An Dub Chlear Quarry, and Fang Quarry (top left)Oblique aerial view of An Lub Chlear (left) and An Toll Mar Luaty Quarry (right) with later slate waste dumpingOblique aerial view of west quarriesOblique aerial view of An Lub Chlear Quarry and south spoil, walls and workings from south eastOblique aerial view of Klondyke, Fang and An Lub Chlear quarriesOblique aerial view of Fang and An Lub Chlear quarriesOblique aerial view from south of An Toll Mar Luaty and An Lub Chlear Quarries as well as the engine house remainsQuarries NM71NW 117 and 118 and 119 (An Lub Chlear, Fang and Rudbha Nam Faoileann/An Staca Dubh) and tramway track, spoil from the south west quarries and walls from view from hill to eastSouth garden enclosures to north east of quarry no.7 (NM71NW 118), and enclosures at NM75573 17057 and NM73559 17074, view from high ground to east. Part of NM71NW 120 can also be seen in right of imageQuarry (NM71NW 117.00), view from south westMortared slate constructed sea defence wall in state of collapse, at the north west corner of quarry NM71NW 117, around NM73444 17130Oblique aerial view showing Klondyke Quarry with An Lub Chlear and An Toll mar Luaty quarries beyond from eastOblique aerial view east edge of Hill Quarry and tramways which linked Windmill and Hill Quarries to the Harbour and linked to the western quarries An Toll Mar Luarty, An Lub Chlear and Fang.Quarry NM71NW 117, view from westOblique aerial view of An Lub Chlear and Klondyke Quarries as well as south spoil, walls and workingsOblique aerial view from south showing the western quarries An Lub Chlear and An Toll Mar Luaty and the ruins of the boiler house (foreground), engine house and forge associated with these quarries.Oblique aerial view of An Lub Chlear quarry. The single garden enclosure on the left is adjacent to the site of a locomotive shed serving a spur of the tramway which served the western quarry system by 1899. The current footpath to the enclosure follows the line of this spur.Oblique aerial view of from west showing Hill, An Toll Mar Luaty and An Lub Chlear quarries

Administrative Areas

  • Council Argyll And Bute
  • Parish Kilbrandon And Kilchattan
  • Former Region Strathclyde
  • Former District Argyll And Bute
  • Former County Argyll

Activities

Field Visit (September 2015)

There was an expansion of quarrying activity in the north west area of the island of Easdale between 1871 and 1898. There is also evidence from a map of 1850 which shoes trial slate pits in this area. This now flooded quarry, along with quarres NM71NW 116 and NM71NW 118.0, is depicted and named on the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Argyllshire, surveyed 1898, published 1899, sheet CXXI.7).

The oldest part of this quarry is at its southern end. The 1st edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Argyllshire and Buteshire, surveyed 1871, published 1872, sheet CXXI.7) depicts an abandoned flooded quarry measuring some 636 square metres (0.16 acres). By 1899 the quarry has been reopened and expanded to the north east to some 4,515 square metres (1.16 acres). It has also been connected to the tramway system and was probably associated with the now ruinous Boiler House, Engine House and Forge (NM71NW 132,133,141 and 134).

As with other coast quarries on Easdale, this quarry was below sea level at the maximum extent of its working life. Sea defence walls were built to keep the sea at bay and to give the pumps a chance of keeping the workings as dry as possible. The slate built sea defence wall at the north end of the quarry (around NM7346 1717) was partially visible by 1977 (see SC 489163). By the date of visit, however, the wall was no longer visible apart from some mortar traces on the outcrop. A further fragment of the return of this slate built wall (running south east) was visible immediately to the west of the quarry (see DP228101).

There is another wall made of concrete and measuring about 11.0m in length at NM 73472 17180 (see DP228099). This is not visible in a 1946 RAF aerial photograph (NCAP_SCOT_106G_SCOT_UK_0049_4267, 6 May 1946).

M MacDonald (1978)

Visited by HES, Survey and Recording Section, (MMD) 9 September 2015.

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