Fordell Level
Shaft(S) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Fordell Level
Classification Shaft(S) (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Fordell; Broomieside; Vantage; Fordell Railway
Canmore ID 284217
Site Number NT18NE 128
NGR NT 15158 87133
NGR Description From NT 15350 88278 to NT 14974 85659
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/284217
- Council Fife
- Parish Dalgety
- Former Region Fife
- Former District Dunfermline
- Former County Fife
NT18NE 128 from 15350 88278 to 14974 85659
Series of capped air shafts for the 'Fordell Level' from Fordell village to S of Clinthill Plantation.
Shafts are depicted on the OS 1:2500m scale digital map at the follwoing locations:
NT 15350 88278, NT 15356 88168, NT 15303 87928, NT 15126 87569, NT 15162 87320, NT 15158 87133, NT 15109 86983, NT 15111 86695, NT 15042 86538, NT 15032 86449, NT 15045 86347, NT 15033 86296, NT 15040 86150, NT 14997 86043 (NT18NW), NT 14965 85883 (NT18NW) and NT 14974 85659 (NT18NW).
The top of the shafts are in stone and concrete caps, some are square others are round.
Visited by RCAHMS (DE), 10 October 2006
Archaeological Evaluation (10 March 2008 - 28 March 2008)
NT 1515 8713 An evaluation consisting of 65 trial trenches, amounting to 5864m2 (ca 5% of the site), was undertaken from 10–28 March 2008. The trenching targeted a number of locations where former mining settlements and other buildings were recorded on historic maps. A series of shallow undated linear ditched features was identified, together with six mine shafts and a badly truncated sandstone wall of probably modern date. No sub-surface remains of the mining settlement of Coalton were discovered.
Archive: RCAHMS (intended). Report: Fife SMR and RCAHMS (intended)
Funder: ATH Resources PLC
Philip Richardson (CFA Archaeology Ltd), 2008
Information also reported in Oasis (cfaarcha1-42217) 26 March 2013
Archaeological Evaluation (February 2012 - March 2012)
NT 14924 86586 A trial trenching evaluation was carried out February – March 2012 in advance of an extension to the Muir Dean surface mine. The trial trenches were placed to investigate five sites, four separate buildings with associated enclosures and a fifth distinct enclosure, associated with earlier mining activities. The sites were shown on the 1756 estate plan and one site (Damleys) was also shown on the 1st Edition OS map. The probable site of Damleys was subject to a more intensive programme of trial trenching.
The evaluation work led to the identification of a series of possible foundation trenches associated with Damleys. The foundation trenches had been backfilled with demolition debris. There was no evidence of the other sites shown on the estate plan.
Other features identified during the evaluation consisted of post-improvement field drains and drainage features, mineshafts relating to earlier mining activity, vestigial traces of pre-improvement rig and furrow cultivation and a late 19th-century well associated with Annfield Farm.
Archive: RCAHMS (intended). Report: Fife SMR and RCAHMS
Funder: ATH Resources PLC
Magnus Kirby, CFA Archaeology Ltd
2012