Wellesley Colliery, Fife
Black and white photograph, 1967
Professor John R Hume
RCAHMS: J R Hume Collection
Black and white photograph, 1948
RCAHMS: RAF Collections
Wellesley Colliery, known as Denbeath Colliery prior to 1905, was located in Methil, Fife. The colliery was initially sunk by Bowman and Company in 1872-75 and then reconstructed in 1905 by the Wemyss Collieries. A short rail link took the coal to Methil Docks for shipping.
Wellesley not only had the oldest pithead baths in Scotland (built 1915) but, by 1938, also had the largest coal washery in Europe. This huge plant for water-cleaning coal served four other Fife collieries.
Wellesley Colliery stopped producing coal in 1967, but the coal preparation plant, including the Washery, remained in operation until 1970. The complete complex was abandoned in 1972.
In the right of the photograph a new development of prefab houses can be seen, some of which are still occupied today.