Castleton
Copper Mine (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Castleton
Classification Copper Mine (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Castleton And Silvercraig Mining Company; Shirvan Mining Company Ltd; Silvercraig Lodge; Tigh-an-rudha; Lingerton Lodge; Lingerton Burn
Canmore ID 39416
Site Number NR88SE 1
NGR NR 87 84
NGR Description NR c. 87 84
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/39416
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Kilmichael Glassary
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
NR88SE 1 c. 87 84
On 3 January 1862 a Mr Wm Smith who resided at Silvercraig Lodge (where Tigh-an-Rudha now stands) leased from John Graham Campbell, Shirvan, the mining rights of Castleton, Strondoir and Stronachuilinn. Immediately afterwards the Castleton rights were sub-let to to the Castleton and Silvercraig Mining Company who started operations forthwith. Traces of their mine can still be seen in the field behind Lingerton Lodge, to the N of the later walled shaft.
In 1910 a Mr Taylor appears as Managing Director of the Shirvan Mining Company Ltd, whose object was to mine the ore on the Shirvan and Stronachulinn estates of Mr Graham Campbell. The company started operations by having the local contractor, James Carmichael, sink a 90 ft shaft on the Shirvan estate with a view to proving the quality of the copper lode. The remains of the shaft and its safety wall can still be seen in the field behind Lingerton Lodge. The funds of the Company did not admit development of Stronachulinn at the outset, but it was hoped that by demonstrating the value of the Castleton ore body further sale of shares could produce more capital. In the event the project was no more successful than previous attempts and seems to have been abandoned about 1912.
A G Rankine 1987.
No evidence of this mining activity has apparently been identified in field survey. Neither Tigh-an-Rudha nor Lingerton Lodge can be identified from the available map evidence, but the current edition of the OS 1:10,000 map notes the Lingerton Burn as entering Loch Gilp at NR 8734 8474.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 7 August 2000.
Field Visit (13 May 2012 - 28 May 2012)
NM 819 002 (centred on) The overall aim of the research project is to identify prehistoric copper mining in Scotland. The survey began, 13–28 May 2012, by visiting sites where probable hammerstones have been found. Sites visited included Barhullion, Balcraig, Kirklauchline and Wanlockhead all in Dumfries and Galloway, an area where the discovery of a copper ore (bornite) outcrop in a recent quarry at Kirklauchline was of particular interest.
Several other copper mining districts in SW and central Scotland were also visited, including the Tullich Mine at Loch Tay (Perth and Kinross), different sites in the mining district of Wanlockhead/Leadhills (Dumfries and Galloway/South Lanarkshire), Mary’s Mine/Tonderghie (Dumfries and Galloway) and the Kilmartin Copper Mine (Argyll and Bute). Around Bridge of Allan in the Ochill Hills are several copper outcrops where the late medieval Airthrey Hill Mine spoil heaps (Stirling) are easily accessible and still contain a good quantity of copper ores. In Argyll and Bute the mining remains of Abhain Strathain/Meall Mor, at Kilfinan (Murder Lode) and Castleton/Castletown (SE of Lochgilphead) revealed good ‘grey copper ores’, especially at Castleton where the mineralised vein outcrops are easily seen on the shore. In addition the 2012 survey discovered another ore vein along Kilmartin Glen, at the Duntroon Hillfort. The mineralisation is very interesting because of its proximity to numerous archaeological sites.
Further investigation is planned in the area and on other old mining sites in Scotland for 2013. A collection of ore samples has been stored at the National Museums of Scotland, which will hopefully be enlarged in the future to provide a reliable database for investigations, such as the comparison of trace element and lead-isotope ratios in the samples with those found in prehistoric metal objects.
Archive: National Museums of Scotland
Funder: German Archaeological Institute, Department Rome
Daniel Steiniger, German Archaeological Institute, Department Rome
2012
