Talk:Upper Hirst

Latest comment: 1 year ago by BobCliff1952 in topic Rewrite

Rewrite edit

This article contains too much info (overly detailed) and isn't referenced well at all. It is in dire need of a rewrite. I have dropped a talkpage message to the creator/major contributor who wrote it in 2005, however given their very infrequent editing activity now, I suspect they may not return. I propose this article is TNT'd and rewritten from the ground up using what sources are available. I know nothing of coal seams so a more informed hand would be preferred, otherwise at some point in the future I will address this. Rayman60 (talk) 03:50, 28 January 2017 (UTC)Reply

The Upper Hirst seam is also called the Jenny Pate seam and on occasion Janet Pate (see McLean, W. S. 2018 Scottish Coal Seam Names and Correlations, British Geological Survey - this article also confirms where the seam stood amongst the vast set of coal seams occurring across Scotland - on which the original author is correct)
The Jenny Pate was mined extensively in the 16th and 17th century and as the article states it was the seam on which Sir George Bruce's Moat Pit was founded. However the Moat Pit shaft was NOT 2 concentric shafts, it was a single shaft with 3 concentric walls above ground level with the void between outer and middle walls filled with rubble and the void between middle and inner walls filled with puddled clay to waterproof the shaft itself (see Adamson, D. 2008 A Coal Mine in the Sea: Culross and the Moat Pit, Scottish Archaeological Journal vol 30 (1 of 2) p161-199) The coal was used at this time primarily in the manufacture of salt, where its low calorific value was helpful in giving a slower burn and a less intense heat (which would have damaged the pans given the quality of metal available in the late 16th century) BobCliff1952 (talk) 14:39, 9 December 2022 (UTC)Reply