Scottish shale Scottish shale

Bathville (lands)

Alternative names:
Harestanes
Parish:
Bathgate, Linlithgowshire
Local authority:
West Lothian

Originally part of the Hopetoun estates, the lands were sold to William Davidson in 1797, then passed through a number of hands until bought in 1859 by John Watson, who was the mineral tenant at the time. When John Watson & Sons was declared bankrupt in 1874, the lands were bought by the coalmaster James Wood.

  • Newspaper references - Estate sale notices
    • TO BE SOLD BY PRIVATE BARGAIN,

      THE compact ESTATE of BATHVILLE, pleasantly situated near to the new Glasgow road, within one mile of the thriving village of Bathgate, where manure can be procured, and a ready market for the produce of the farm. The lands consist of 114 acres, all enclosed and subdivided; the soil is good, and in high cultivation, a great part of which is in grass well laid down, sufficiently limed, and a great proportion dunged; what is in in crop also dunged, and sown in with proper grass seeds: 30 acres in summer fallow. The whole under proper management, fit for growing any kind of crops, and a more advantageous entry cannot be met with.,- Plenty of coal and ironstone in the lands, which may be wrought to great advantage, as a ready sale can always be depended on.

      Possession may be got immediately, or. at Martinmas next. Payment of the price will be made to suit a purchaser. For further particulars application may be made to James Paterson, Wind-Mill Street. William Renton, servant on the farm, will point out the boundaries. Edinburgh, 14th August, 1811.

      Caledonian Mercury, 15th August 1811

      .......

      TO BE SOLD BY PRIVATE BARGAIN, and to be entered to at Martinmas 1842,

      THE LANDS and MINERALS of BATHVILLE, pleasantly situated in the parish of Bathgate and county of Linlithgow, consisting of 344 imperial acres or thereby, inclosed and subdivided into neat Fields, the soil is good, and all in grass, so that a more advantageous entry is seldom to be met with. The Lands are full of Coal, which has been partially wrought, and found to be of the best quality with every appearance of Ironstone.

      For particulars apply to John Smith Esq., writer in Bathgate; or to Mr Davidson , 9 Newington Place, Edinburgh .

      The Scotsman, 17th August 1842

      .......

      VALUABLE LANDS AND MINERALS IN LINLITHGOW SHIRE FOR SALE.

      To be Sold, by Public Roup, within the Faculty Hall, George's Place, Glasgow on Wednesday the 12th day of January next, at Two o'clock in the Afternoon, (if not previously disposed of by private at bargain,) THE LANDS of BATHVILLE, formerly called HARESTANES, in the Parish of Bathgate, and County of Linlithgow, with the MINERALS therein - all as presently let to and possessed by Messrs. Watson. The Lands extend to 146 Acres, or thereby, and, with the exception of a small portion occupied by Roads, Houses &c. are entirely Arable, They have been nearly all tile-drained, and are in good condition; and, being situated in a rich mining district, about two miles from Bathgate and seven from Linlithgow, are likely to rise in value,

      The House and Offices are substantial, and in good order. The Minerals, comprehending the celebrated Torbanehill Mineral, or Boghead Gas Coal, Blackband and clayband Ironstone, Coal, Limestone, and Fireclay, are very valuable, particularly the Gas Coal and Ironstone, which are abundant, and of excellent quality; and there are the best grounds for believing that they extend through the greater part if not the whole of the lands; and the Monkland Railway, which intersects the Lands, affords all easy and cheap mode of conveyance. Mr. Milne, the Overseer at Bathville,will show the lands; and further particulars may be learned on application to Messrs. Stout & Muirhead, No. 42 West George Street, Glasgow, who will exhibit the Title Deeds and Articles of Roup. at Glasgow, 26th November, 1858.

      Glasgow Herald, 3rd December 1858

      .......

      Sale of Land. - The estate of Bathville, Linlithgowshire, has been purchased John Watson, Esq., coalmaster, Glasgow, at the sum of £10,500. This estate, which has hitherto been held on long lease by Mr Watson, contains the celebrated Boghead gas coal, blackband ironstone, and other valuable minerals.

      Glasgow Herald, 1st July 1859

      .......

  • Newspaper references - Minerals and mining
    • VESSEL BURNT IN THE FIRTH OF FORTH.

      To the Editor of the Glasgow Herald. 21 Bath Street, Glasgow, 30th Dec., 1859. Sir,-In your paper of Tuesday last I observe the following

      " ALLOA, Dec. 26.- Vessel Burnt in the Frith of Forth.- At an early hour this morning, while a London barque, the name of which we have been unable to ascertain, but which had sailed from Bo'ness for London yesterday, with a cargo of parrot coals, was passing down the Frith, a fire broke out in the hold, and, in consequence of the highly combustible nature co the cargo, it spread so rapidly that the crew were obliged to take to their boat with all speed and leave it to its fate. The ill-fated barque continued to burn away until about three o'clock p.m., when it sank at a point about mid-way between Culross and Charlestown. The cause of the fire is stated to have been spontaneous combustion"

      This vessel was the barque Tenemara, laden with Bathville gas coal for London. As the above report regarding the cause of the fire is calculated to mislead shipmasters, and prejudice them against these coals, I may mention that they have been shipped to almost every part of the world; and, on the longest voyages such a casualty has never taken place, while the Tenemara was only three days loaded when she took fire. Moreover, as this statement regarding the Tenemara is entirely without proof, it is as well that those interested should be cautioned against placing any confidence in it. Yours respectfully, JOHN WATSON.

      Glasgow Herald, 31st December 1859

      .......

      FATAL PIT ACCIDENT.-On Saturday, an accident occurred in No.3 Pit, Bathville, in the parish of Bathgate, by which a miner, named James Smith, lost his life. It appears that it was Smith's turn to send his hutch up the shaft; and he was placing it upon the cage for that purpose, when another miner, named Notman, came up with a filled hutch from an opposite working, and also placed it on the cage, although it was not his turn. Smith got angry at this, and jumped upon the top of his own hutch, in order to push the other off, when it is thought his foot must have caught the engineman's, signal bell, for the machinery got in motion, and the cage began to ascend the shaft, crushing the unfortunate man's head between it and the sides. When a few yards up, his hutch, which was only partially on the cage, fell, draging him along with it to the bottom of the shaft, and killing him on the spot.

      Caledonian Mercury, 11th February 1862

      .......

      FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR ARMADALE On Wednesday a labourer, named William Rodgers, residing at Armadale, met with his death near No. 4 pit, Bathville, under the following circumstances. It appears that Rodgers and two other labourers had been. employed loading a waggon with old metal, and, while so engaged, the end of the waggon, which opens upwards upon hinges, fell with a heavy jerk upon Rodgers' head, inflicting injuries from which he died shortly afterwards. The other two men escaped with slight injuries.

      Caledonian Mercury, 13th July 1863