Scheduled Monument
Preston Island,artificial island,coal mines,saltpans and housingSM5079
Status: Designated
Documents
Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).
The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.
Summary
- Date Added
- 30/07/1991
- Type
- Industrial: chemical; coal; house, associated office; mines, quarries
- Local Authority
- Fife
- Parish
- Culross
- NGR
- NT 00700 85213
- Coordinates
- 300700, 685213
Description
Preston Island is an artificial island formed in the early 19th century which lies about 1.2 km S of Low Valleyfield.
The monument consists of an artificial island in the river Forth about 1km south of Low Valleyfield, with the roofless remains of a pumping-engine house, two mine-shafts, a double and single salt-pan, and a block of workers' housing. The island is now surrounded by a shale bank which separates it from fly-ash lagoons operated in connection with Longannet electricity generating station. The area to be scheduled consists of the entire area of the former island, irregular in plan with maximum dimensions of 120m NW-SE by 75m NE-SW.
Statement of National Importance
The monument is of national importance because it is the only surviving complex with above-ground remains of one of the combined coal mining and salt boiling units which were characteristic of the Scottish salt industry. The double and single salt pans are the most complete of their type, and the engine house and associated shaft are also unusually complete. The survival of the range of workers' housing adds considerably top the interest of this outstanding site, the importance of which has been highlighted by recent research and survey work on the Scottish salt industry. It would be fair to say that this complex is at least of British national importance if not wider significance.
References
Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation
About Scheduled Monuments
Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.
We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.
Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.
We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)
Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the
scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).
The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.
Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.
Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.