Monument record MHG30000 - Colliery - Brora Links, Clyne, Sutherland

Four' Bell-Pits' have been recorded on the Brora Links (Back Beach). There are many more that need to be located and recorded.
Description of Site - These pits are located to the S of Brora, on the Links and Inverbrora Coastal Foreshore, Below the raised beach. They relate to the early attempts to exploit the Brora Coal, which initially outcropped on the seashore. The first pit was sunk in 1598 and the coal was worked intermittently until 1777. The early 18c Pits were financed by the House of Sutherland, and later, in 1764 John Williams became the coalmaster and developed the coalmine.
Only 1 Pit is marked (disused) on the OS 1&2 Edition maps, NC 906 037.
Pit 1 - NC 906 037, 37 yards deep, Pre-1800 workings.
Pit 2 - NC 904 034, possibly where 15 men killed.
Pit 3 - Hetherington's Trial Pit (1872)?.
Pit 4 - Pit Depression, similar to 3.
The site where Pit 1 is located is marked by a slight depression filled with stones and a series of linear earthworks. The map produced by 'Farey' states this pit was 37 yds deep. An article by M Bangor-Jones states this pit was under John Willaim's lease, between 1764&1777. The best preserved"shell-holes" are now on the Inverbrora side of the boundary fence, Sof the Links. Pit 2 may possibly be the location of a pit financed by William, 5th Earl of Sutherland in the first half of the 18c. It is stated that 15 men were killed in one of these pits by a roof-fall, the pit had pillar-stall-type workings.
In 1872, while the Fascally shafts were being prepared for working, Joshua Hetherington, a miner from County Durham, sank a trial shaft on the Links below 'Shean Park' near the March Stones from the Brora Lotters(Crofters), this is known from anonymous notes added to Farey's Report 1813. It is possible this relates to Pit 3&4, where clear depressions are visible and surrounding earthworks (lips) characteristic of Bell-Pits.
Th building of the new Sewerage Plant has destroyed the best clear cut Pit Depression on the Inverbrora side. The area where the Bell-Pits are located has reduced dramatically due to coastal erosion and threatens the ones nearest the sea.
Information supplied by J Aitken, NOSAS. 01/00.
See assoc. docs. File.
J Aitken : 16/05/01.