Scheduled Monument

Woodmuir Farm, coke ovens and reservoir 600m SSE ofSM11227

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
20/01/2005
Type
Industrial: chemical; kiln, furnace, oven
Local Authority
West Lothian
Parish
West Calder
NGR
NS 96781 59829
Coordinates
296781, 659829

Description

The monument comprises a bank of coke ovens and associated reservoir and chimney situated alongside a former mineral railway.

Located within planted forestry, the bank of 10 coking ovens is set back-to-back in five pairs, the bank being about 25m in total length. Each oven measures 3.55m in diameter and about 1.9m high, with a flue at the apex of its conical roof. Two adjacent banks of rubble may be the remains of a further two banks of coking ovens. The remains of a chimney and reservoir associated with the works are located to the S of the railway, in dense forestry.

The coking ovens, reservoir, chimney and mineral railway are depicted on the 1st edition OS 25 inch map (Edinburghshire, 1864), but are in ruins on the 2nd edition OS 25 inch map (Edinburghshire, 1906).

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, with maximum dimensions of 108m NW-SE by 100m transversely, to include the coking oven banks, the remains of the chimney and an area of ground in which evidence relating to their construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a well-preserved example of a bank of 19th-century coke ovens and associated remains which have the potential to greatly enhance our understanding of early industrial processes. The best-preserved bank has the field characteristics of its class preserved very well.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by RCAHMS as NS95NE66.01.

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.

Images

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Printed: 09/10/2026 01:17