324 Mr. MuRciiisoN on the Coal-field of Brora in Sutherlandshire, 



APPENDIX. 



Brora Coal-Works. 



Sir Robert Gordon states that in 1598, Jane Countess of Sutherland opened 

 the first coal pit ; probably near the old Salt Pans. In 1614 her son John, 

 fifth Earl of Sutherland, re-opened the works ; and the shaft is yet visible 

 about 200 yards nortii of the old Salt House. 



In the early part of the last century, the Earls of Sutherland continued to 

 work the Inverbrora coal, sinking four or five new pits *, in one of which fif- 

 teen men lost their lives by the falling in of the roof: one of these shafts is 

 said to have been 12 yards deep. 



About the year 1764, the working of the coal was undertaken by Mr. 

 John Williams, to which circumstance there is no allusion in his " Mineral 

 Kingdom." He re-opened one of the pits above mentioned, which is reported 

 to have been 26 yards deep, and sunk another near it. Also subsequently, 

 two others N. E. of these ; one 30, the other 20 yards in depth. In conse- 

 quence of not excluding the pyrites, the coal was found unfit for domestic 

 use, and liable to heat and ignite when exposed to the air. A cargo of it 

 going to Portsoy took fire, and so much alarm was excited by this sponta- 

 neous combustion, that the sale of the coal was materially injured; and in 

 1769 Mr. Williams resigned his lease. 



In 1770 a boring was made near Dunrobin, where two thin seams of coal 

 were proved ; but not deemed workable. 



In 1777 the colliery and salt-works at Inverbrora were abandoned. 



Since the Marquess and Marchioness of Stafford commenced their improve- 

 ments, the following have been the operations. 



In 1810 Mr. W. Hughes sunk a shaft on the north bank of the river to the 

 depth of 83 yards, and found a thick seam of coal. (See Sutherlandshire Agri- 

 cultural Report, page 148.) 



In 1811 borings were made contiguous to the shaft now in use. No. I. is 

 a section of the strata cut through upon that occasion. 



Subsequently the engine-pit was sunk about 780 yards distant from the old 

 pit. No. 2. is a section of the beds in this sinking. 



N.B. — About 70,000 tons of coal have been extracted from the pit now in 

 use since the year 1814. 



* See Memoir, p. 303. 



