Pumping Engine House, Thornton, Fife
This engine house is located about half-a-mile to the east of the infamous Rothes Colliery (at NGR NT 2919.9726) immediately to the north of Glenrothes with Thornton railway station. In illustration (1) the derelict winding towers of the two Rothes shafts can be seen in the distance.
The colliery’s name and the dates of its operation, depth of the shaft etc are not known. The Ordnance Survey described it as an ‘Old Pit’ when the area was surveyed in 1854.
The buildings were of quite superior construction being of ashlar throughout including the former boiler house. Arched opening were provided for the windows.
Copyright © Geoff Hayes Collection, NMRS Records
ILLUSTRATIONS
Fig.1 – View from the east showing the buttressed bob wall and the hand holes for access to the nuts of the bob stool holding down bolts. (c.1979)
The length of the holding down bolts indicates that this may have been a double acting engine.
The boiler house to the right was in use as a dwelling. From its size and layout it could have accommodated 3 egg—ended boilers.
Fig.2 – View from the west showing the back wall of the pumping engine house. (c.1979)
Note the two holes for the two timber spring beams which spanned the length of the engine house.
Fig.3 – North side of the engine house, showing all that remained c.2000. The former boiler house had been demolished.
Fig.4 – Shaft top, c.2000. A concrete cap covered the shaft just below surface level.
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