GM336

Scott's Pit Engine House & Traces of Ancillary Buildings  

 

Designated  

Swansea  

Birchgrove  

269707  

198295  

Industrial  

Engine House  

Post Medieval/Modern  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument. The monument consists of the remains of an engine house and coal shaft, dating to the 19th century. Scott's Pit was sunk by a London capitalist, John Scott, in 1816-19, together with a tramroad hauling coal to Foxhole. Because of pumping problems Scott sold the pit in 1828 to Charles Henry Smith of Gwernllwynchwyth, a local coal owner. The life of the pit was not lengthy, and prodution came to a halt about 1838. The Cornish beam engine pumped water and a second engine was used to haul coal. Steam was provided by a Haystack boiler and later by possibly two Cornish boilers. Scott's Pit was originally a single shaft pit but with the shaft split to provide ventilation by using a fire at the bottom of one side. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of mining in Wales. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques. An engine house may be part of a larger cluster of industrial monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.