tarboat's photos with the keyword: east lothian

In 1952 the Pithead Baths were built at Prestongrange Colliery. The architect was J.E.Webster and this was probably a standard National Coal Board design. It was the 100th pithead baths to be erected at a Scottish colliery. The cost was £63,578 and the building provided bathing and clothes storage accommodation for 969 men, including a well-equipped canteen and a cycle store which had space for 50 bicycles and six motorbikes. Sadly its working life was short as the colliery closed in 1962 and the now building stands empty as part of the Industrial Heritage site.

The Dunbar or Oxwellmains cement works was originally built by Blue Circle in 1963 with three kilns. It was rebuilt with a preheater tower and a single kiln which went into production in 1986. It became part of Lafarge Cement UK in 2001 and passed to Tarmac in 2013. More details here: www.cementkilns.co.uk/cement_kiln_dunbar.html

This sphinx statue is situated on Lauderdale House in Dunbar. This Category A listed building incorporates a central block from around 1740,built for Captain James Fall, a wealthy Dunbar merchant. The building was significantly enlarged built to the design of Robert Adam in 1790 - 1792 for the Earl of Lauderdale and the sphinx was added at that time.

It was in March 1962 that work first began on the modern works at Oxwellmains, near Dunbar, and on April 1st 1963 the first kiln was lit. Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Limited (later Blue Circle Industries PLC) selected Dunbar because it had the ideal proportions of raw material (shale and limestone) for the production of cement; for much of the works’ existence it has been the only cement producer in Scotland. The plant was modernised in the 1980s. The current kiln has an output of around 867 tonnes of cement clinker per day. Ownership passed to Lafarge in 2001 and from Lafarge Tarmac to CRH in July 2015.

The mercat (or market) cross in Haddington is topped with this goat which sports a fine set of broze horns. The structure can be seen to be dated 1880.

A panorama of the industrial activity on Scotland's east coast.On the right is the 1,364 Mw Torness nuclear power station that was commissioned in 1988, On the left is the Dunbar cement works at Oxwellmains. Now operated by CRH it has an output of around 867 tonnes of cement clinker daily.

It is always good to see a chimneystack with a full complement of pots. This is in Haddington, East Lothian. The cream brick is nice to see and presumably originates from a works on the coalfield around Prestongrange not far to the north west.

The harbour at Dunbar is in two parts divided by this double bascule bridge

The harbour at Dunbar is in two parts divided by this double bascule bridge.

This cast pulley is on the side of the continuous brick kiln at Prestongrange. A close look shows the frayed end of a steel cable and I can only assume that it was associated with raising and lowering a damper on the kiln. The London Electric Firm was established in Croydon in 1904 and specialised in winches, wire ropes, guide pulleys and lowering gear.

Mosaic in the doorway to a former shop of the Buttercup Dairy Company Ltd which at its peak had over 400 shops across Scotland.

This one was a bit of a trek to find but well worth the effort. A single pot draw kiln with access to all four sides due to bridging over the rear section by the charging access. This seems to be the local style for limekilns - all arches, inside and out!

The Prestongrange engine is of the Cornish type and was manufactured by J. E. Mare & Co of Plymouth to the design of engineers Hocking & Loam. This 70 inch engine was brought to the Prestongrange Colliery second hand in 1874 having been used previously on three Cornish Mines, the last being the Great Western Mines from 1869 to 1873. It was bought Harveys of Hayle who sold it on to Prestongrange complete with a new Beam of their own manufacture. The engine pumped the pit until electric pumps took over in 1954. The colliery closed in 1962 and the engine is now preserved as a feature in the Industrial Heritage Museum on the site. Access to the enginehouse is available on request at the visitor centre.

The Dunbar or Oxwellmains cement works was originally built by Blue Circle in 1963 with three kilns. It was rebuilt with a preheater tower and a single kiln which went into production in 1986. It became part of Lafarge Cement UK in 2001 and passed to Tarmac in 2013. More details here: www.cementkilns.co.uk/cement_kiln_dunbar.html

A grab shot from a speeding train with reflections from the window. However, it does give a view from a side not normally accessible for photography. It was in March 1962 that work first began on the modern works and on April 1st 1963 the first kiln was lit. Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers Limited (later Blue Circle Industries PLC) selected Dunbar because it had the ideal proportions of raw material (shale and limestone) for the production of cement; for much of the works’ existence it has been the only cement producer in Scotland. The plant was modernised in the 1980s. The current kiln has an output of around 867 tonnes of cement clinker per day. Ownership passed to Lafarge in 2001 and from Lafarge Tarmac to CRH in July 2015.

The brickworks at Prestongrange once comprised eleven round downdraught kilns and a 24 chamber Hoffmann kiln. Today only the disused Hoffmann kiln survives.

The Prestongrange engine is of the Cornish type and was manufactured by J. E. Mare & Co of Plymouth to the design of engineers Hocking & Loam. This 70 inch engine was brought to the Prestongrange Colliery second hand in 1874 having been used previously on three Cornish Mines, the last being the Great Western Mines from 1869 to 1873. It was bought Harveys of Hayle who sold it on to Prestongrange complete with a new Beam of their own manufacture. The Harvey name cast into the beam has lead to confusion as to the manufacturer and it was Kenneth Brown who discovered the truth ( www.aditnow.co.uk/documents/Prestongrange-Industrial/Prestongrange-a-Myth.pdf ). The engine pumped the pit until electric pumps took over in 1954. The colliery closed in 1962 and the engine is now preserved as a feature in the Industrial Heritage Museum on the site.

The 1200 megawatt Cockenzie power station opened in 1967 and in 2005 was criticised for being the UK's least carbon efficient plant. It was closed in March 2013, shortly before this photo was taken, and is now being dismantled