Baads (lands)

This large estate was divided into three areas. Oil shale occured in the northern most of these, rocks of the coal measures lay beneath the other areas. Young's PL&MO Co. worked the Hurlet coal to fuel their oilworks.

Annotation on 1870's plan

Land owned by Miss Douglas. - Minerals in northern area let to Young's Oil Co., minerals not let in other parts.

Archive records

Leasee	Owner	Start date	End date	Relinquished date	Full reference
Young's PL&MO Co. Ltd		1877			215852 (page77)
Young's PL&MO Co. Ltd	Aretus Akers Douglas	1884	1903	1889	215852 (page 77)
Young's PL&MO Co. Ltd. (shale)	Lord Chilston	1938	1969		213942, 1 of 6
Young's PL&MO Co. Ltd (coal)	Lord Chilston	1938	1969		213942, 1 of 6

Archive plans

See full record 217179

See full record; 129002

See full record; 129013

(Coal) has been dug for in various places, but never to much advantage, except at Longford on the estate of Mr. Douglas of Baads. The working of this coal has been discontinued for many years. But we understand, that the proprietor has now given a lease and some attempts have been already made to find out the best place of erecting an engine.

Old Statistical Account - Parish of West Calder, Rev. Mr Muckersie, 1795

.......

(Ironstone) has been found about two fathoms above the coal at Longford; but only a small quantity has as yet been wrought there

New Statistical Account - Parish of West Calder, Rev. William Learmonth, 1845

View looking north east from Blinkbonny.

West Mains farm, 04/11/2020

Baads Mill 04/11/2020

Baads No.17 pit looking towards Burngrange, 02/01/2017

Baads No.17 pit, 02/01/2017

Longford farm 01/01/2021

• 217179 - Disposition by the Right Honourable Eric Alexander Akers Douglas, Viscount Chilston of Boughton Malherbe and Baron Douglas of Baads with consent [...] - parts of lands at Baads. Dated 1950, the document refers to 4 plans, of which only III & IV remain attached. Plan III shows a property of 0.176 acres by the West Calder Burn at a scale of 1:1000. Plan IV shows a property of 2869 square yards along the verges of the road between Ayr & West Calder at a scale of 1:2500. In both cases, the properties concerned are shown in pink.
  
• 129001 - Duplicate Lease between The Right Honourable Viscount Chilston and Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company Ltd. - Duplicate Lease between The Right Honourable Viscount Chilston and Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company (Limited) of Shale under Baads and Burngrange. Legal: J. C. and A. Steuart, W.S. Allowing Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company to mine 'all the bituminous oil shale lying in and uder that part of the lands of Baads and Burngrange in the Parish of West Calder, and County of Midlothian'. The lease is signed by two witnesses, Percy Lowe and Charles James and by the Viscount Chilston. Also signed by H. B. Heath Eves (Director of Young's ), Robert Crichton (Director of Young's) and R. W. Meikle (Secretary of Young's). See also Arc 129013. Dated 1937.
  
• 129002 - Duplicate Lease between The Right Honourable Viscount Chilston and Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company Ltd. - Duplicate Lease between The Right Honourable Viscount Chilston and Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company (Limited) of Coal in Mine no.42, Baads, West Calder.Includes plans of the areas and correspondence between Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company and James Allan, Legal Adviser to the National Coal Board. Legal: J. C. and A. Steuart, W. S. Dated 1955. See also Arc 129001. Type written with signatures. Also includes 2 plans. Plan A hows location of the no.42 coal mine in relation to Baads Mill and rusha uarry. Scale 1/2 " to 500'. Plan B shows area mostly to the north of no. 42 coal mine. Including old shale lease area and coal lease area, arable fields and rough pasture. scale 1/2 " to 100'.
  
• 217163 - Correspondence re Lease between Coal Commission and Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company Limited relating to coal in the lands of [...] - Correspondence re Lease between Coal Commission and Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company Limited; relating to coal in the lands of Loganlea and Baads in Parish of West Calder and County of Midlothian; dated 1955.
  
• 217162 - Copy of Lease between Coal Commission and Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company Limited relating to coal in the lands of Loganlea and [...] - Copy of Lease between Coal Commission and Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company Limite; relating to coal in the lands of Loganlea and Baads in Parish of West Calder and County of Midlothian; dated 1946.
  
• 129013 - Duplicate Lease between The Right Honourable Viscount Chilston and Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company Limited of Shale under Baads. 1940. - Includes Minute of Agreement between The Right Honourable Viscount Chilston and Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company Limited, correspondence between Young's and John M. Caldwell, and plans of the area. Legal: J. C. and A. Steuart, W. S. Lease terminated Whitsunday 1963. See also Arc 129001. TDated 28th February 1940. Type written with signatures. Plan A, hand drawn showing the Lands of Baads, shows position of no. 42 coal mine, Baads Mill, Lands of Addiewell, Lands of Muirhall. Scale 1" to 100'. Plan B shows more detailed map of The Lands Of Baads around West Mains farm and no. 42 Coal Mine showing individual fields. and what they contain. Includes key showing how much land is occupied by the railway, mine and road. Scale 1/2" to 100'.
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Letter - From Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm, to John Fyfe Esq - Letter from Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm, to John Fyfe Esq regarding the claim for damage discussed in the 15th July letter, and a meeting with Mr Davidson to resolve the matter.
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Letter - From Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mrs. J. Rennie, Baads Mains Farm - Letter from Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mrs. J. Rennie, Baads Mains Farm regarding the increased cost of coal supplied to the farm
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Letter - From Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mrs. J. Rennie, Baads Mains Farm - Letter from Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mrs. J Rennie, Baads Mains Farm that enclosed a cheque for compensation of ground taken from the farm for a railway, and proposed a new cost for supplying coal to the farm as production prices increased.
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Letter - From Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mrs. J. Rennie, Baads Mains Farm - Letter from Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mrs. J. Rennie, Baads Mains Farm regarding the increase in the price of coal supplied to the farm.
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Letter - From Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm - Letter from Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm regarding payment of the claim for damages, agreed through meetings with James Davidson and Thomas Prentice.
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Letter - From James I. Davidson to Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm, West Calder - Letter from James I. Davidson to Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm, West Calder regarding payment of a claim for damages made by Mr. Rennie.
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Letter - From Mr. John Rennie to Thomas Prentice Esq - Letter from Mr. John Rennie to Thomas Prentice Esq regarding a previous meeting to discuss damages, with Mr Rennie agreeing to a payment of £7
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Letter - From Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm to Thomas Prentice Esq - Letter from Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm to Thomas Prentice Esq regarding a settlement of claim for damages
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Letter - From Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm, to John Fyfe Esq - Letter from Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm, to John Fyfe Esq regarding his claim for damages and a meeting with Mr Davidson.
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Letter - From Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm - Letter from Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm regarding a meeting with Mr James Inglis Davidson about claim for damage to farm
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Letter - From Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm - Letter from Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm regarding a claim for permanent damage.
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Letter - From Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm - Letter from Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm regarding a dispute over land taken for a railway.
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Letter - From Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm, to John Fyfe Esq - Letter from Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm, to John Fyfe Esq regarding damages to his farm
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Letter - From Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm - Letter from Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company (Limited) to Mr. John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Memo - From John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm, to Allan Armstrong Esq, Mining Manager - Memo from John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm, to Allan Armstrong Esq, Mining Manager at Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Co Ltd, regarding receipts for settlement of damages and price of coal
  
• LVSAV1992.054 - Memo - From Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company Ltd to Mr John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm - Memo from Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company Ltd to Mr John Rennie, Baads Mains Farm, replying to the 4th May memo from John.