Mucklets Road

NT37SW 241 NT 33002 71602

Oblique aerial photography has recorded traces of a 19th century coal pit in the field immediately W of Musselburgh railway station. A heavily disturbed area is clearly visible as a cropmark and traces of a track, or possibly a tramway, define the edge of the workings on the S side.

The coal pit is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Edinburghshire 1854, sheet 7) at which time it comprised three buildings and a shaft. However, on 1:2,500 version of the same map, the pit is clearly abandoned; two 'Old shafts' are marked and none of the buildings are shown.

Information from RCAHMS (PM) 26 April 2002

NT 330 715 (centre) Work was undertaken on the site of a campus for the new Queen Margaret University College. In May and June 2005, during the formation of a new link road from the A1, two sealed mineshafts associated with Mucklets Road Coal Pit (NT37SW 241) were exposed. The structures were recorded prior to their stabilisation with concrete.

In August 2005, following the unmonitored removal of topsoil along the wayleave for a new sewer to the S of the mineshafts, a visit to the site by a member of the public resulted in the discovery of human remains, which were reported to the police. A site visit located the source of the bones, and subsequent excavation recorded the remains of the grave. The feature was aligned close to N-S and the grave fill contained residual medieval and post-medieval

artefacts, as well as a button which may have been associated with the burial.

Reports lodged with East Lothian SMR and NMRS.

Sponsor: East Lothian Council.

I Suddaby 2005