Raasay Ironstone Mines and Processing Works

Raasay Ironstone Mine and Processing Works These structures are the remains of the ore calcining kilns, though the five vertical cylindrical kiln structures have been demolished. The original appearance of the kilns can be seen in the link below. Background The two adits of Raasay No.1 ironstone Mine were situated about 2.5 km north of East Suisnish pier and worked the Jurassic (Upper Lias) age siderite and chamosite ores from 1914 to 1920. The mine was owned and developed by William Baird & Co. who also built the terraces of houses in the village of Inverarish to house the mine workers, many of whom were German prisoners of war. A tramway and incline connected the mine to the processing works (crusher, calcining kilns, gantries, loading hoppers) at East Suisnish. A second pair of mine adits (Raasay No.2 Ironstone Mine) just north of Inverarish were also opened up around the same time but never went into proper production due to geological difficulties (faulting). There was also a small amount of opencast outcrop mining carried out near the No.1 Mine, again around the same time. The works were dismantled by 1943 but the site is now a scheduled protected monument. A view of the works in 1917 is here: geoscenic.bgs.ac.uk/asset-bank/action/viewAsset?id=1343

Raasay Ironstone Mine and Processing Works This is an end view of the remains of the ore hopper. The square opening at the base would have contained the conveyor which would have transferred the ore to the East Suisnish pier for loading on to boats. Background The two adits of Raasay No.1 ironstone Mine were situated about 2.5 km north of East Suisnish pier and worked the Jurassic (Upper Lias) age siderite and chamosite ores from 1914 to 1920. The mine was owned and developed by William Baird & Co. who also built the terraces of houses in the village of Inverarish to house the mine workers, many of whom were German prisoners of war. A tramway and incline connected the mine to the processing works (crusher, calcining kilns, gantries, loading hoppers) at East Suisnish. A second pair of mine adits (Raasay No.2 Ironstone Mine) just north of Inverarish were also opened up around the same time but never went into proper production due to geological difficulties (faulting). There was also a small amount of opencast outcrop mining carried out near the No.1 Mine, again around the same time. The works were dismantled by 1943 but the site is now a scheduled protected monument. A view of the works in 1917 is here: geoscenic.bgs.ac.uk/asset-bank/action/viewAsset?id=1343

Raasay Ironstone Mine and Processing Works This shows the remains of the ore hopper. The row of buildings to the rear are the remains of the ore calcining kilns, though the cylindrical kiln structures have been demolished and the bricks (I suspect) are those now dumped in the ore hopper. The rectangular and sloping structures would have housed the conveyors to transfer calcined ore into the hopper. Background The two adits of Raasay No.1 ironstone Mine were situated about 2.5 km north of East Suisnish pier and worked the Jurassic (Upper Lias) age siderite and chamosite ores from 1914 to 1920. The mine was owned and developed by William Baird & Co. who also built the terraces of houses in the village of Inverarish to house the mine workers, many of whom were German prisoners of war. A tramway and incline connected the mine to the processing works (crusher, calcining kilns, gantries, loading hoppers) at East Suisnish. A second pair of mine adits (Raasay No.2 Ironstone Mine) just north of Inverarish were also opened up around the same time but never went into proper production due to geological difficulties (faulting). There was also a small amount of opencast outcrop mining carried out near the No.1 Mine, again around the same time. The works were dismantled by 1943 but the site is now a scheduled protected monument. A view of the works in 1917 is here: geoscenic.bgs.ac.uk/asset-bank/action/viewAsset?id=1343

Raasay Ironstone Mine and Processing Works The remains of the ore hopper from which crushed and calcined ore was stored prior to loading via conveyor into boats at the East Suisnish pier. The mountains and hills of Skye are in the distance. Background The two adits of Raasay No.1 ironstone Mine were situated about 2.5 km north of East Suisnish pier and worked the Jurassic (Upper Lias) age siderite and chamosite ores from 1914 to 1920. The mine was owned and developed by William Baird & Co. who also built the terraces of houses in the village of Inverarish to house the mine workers, many of whom were German prisoners of war. A tramway and incline connected the mine to the processing works (crusher, calcining kilns, gantries, loading hoppers) at East Suisnish. A second pair of mine adits (Raasay No.2 Ironstone Mine) just north of Inverarish were also opened up around the same time but never went into proper production due to geological difficulties (faulting). There was also a small amount of opencast outcrop mining carried out near the No.1 Mine, again around the same time. The works were dismantled by 1943 but the site is now a scheduled protected monument. A view of the works in 1917 is here: geoscenic.bgs.ac.uk/asset-bank/action/viewAsset?id=1343

Raasay Ironstone Mine and Processing Works The row of pitched roof buildings are the remains of the ore calcining kilns, though the cylindrical kiln structures have been demolished. Below is the semi-circular back wall of the ore hopper. Background The two adits of Raasay No.1 ironstone Mine were situated about 2.5 km north of East Suisnish pier and worked the Jurassic (Upper Lias) age siderite and chamosite ores from 1914 to 1920. The mine was owned and developed by William Baird & Co. who also built the terraces of houses in the village of Inverarish to house the mine workers, many of whom were German prisoners of war. A tramway and incline connected the mine to the processing works (crusher, calcining kilns, gantries, loading hoppers) at East Suisnish. A second pair of mine adits (Raasay No.2 Ironstone Mine) just north of Inverarish were also opened up around the same time but never went into proper production due to geological difficulties (faulting). There was also a small amount of opencast outcrop mining carried out near the No.1 Mine, again around the same time. The works were dismantled by 1943 but the site is now a scheduled protected monument. A view of the works in 1917 is here: geoscenic.bgs.ac.uk/asset-bank/action/viewAsset?id=1343

Raasay Ironstone Mine and Processing Works The old office block at East Suisnish viewed from the tramway incline. The hills of Skye are in the background with the imposing east face of Ben Tianavaig to the right. Background The two adits of Raasay No.1 ironstone Mine were situated about 2.5 km north of East Suisnish pier and worked the Jurassic (Upper Lias) age siderite and chamosite ores from 1914 to 1920. The mine was owned and developed by William Baird & Co. who also built the terraces of houses in the village of Inverarish to house the mine workers, many of whom were German prisoners of war. A tramway and incline connected the mine to the processing works (crusher, calcining kilns, gantries, loading hoppers) at East Suisnish. A second pair of mine adits (Raasay No.2 Ironstone Mine) just north of Inverarish were also opened up around the same time but never went into proper production due to geological difficulties (faulting). There was also a small amount of opencast outcrop mining carried out near the No.1 Mine, again around the same time. The works were dismantled by 1943 but the site is now a scheduled protected monument. A view of the works in 1917 is here: geoscenic.bgs.ac.uk/asset-bank/action/viewAsset?id=1343

Raasay Ironstone Mine and Processing Works South facing side of the old office block at East Suisnish. Background The two adits of Raasay No.1 ironstone Mine were situated about 2.5 km north of East Suisnish pier and worked the Jurassic (Upper Lias) age siderite and chamosite ores from 1914 to 1920. The mine was owned and developed by William Baird & Co. who also built the terraces of houses in the village of Inverarish to house the mine workers, many of whom were German prisoners of war. A tramway and incline connected the mine to the processing works (crusher, calcining kilns, gantries, loading hoppers) at East Suisnish. A second pair of mine adits (Raasay No.2 Ironstone Mine) just north of Inverarish were also opened up around the same time but never went into proper production due to geological difficulties (faulting). There was also a small amount of opencast outcrop mining carried out near the No.1 Mine, again around the same time. The works were dismantled by 1943 but the site is now a scheduled protected monument. A view of the works in 1917 is here: geoscenic.bgs.ac.uk/asset-bank/action/viewAsset?id=1343

Raasay Ironstone Mine and Processing Works Remains of the office block at East Suisnish. Background The two adits of Raasay No.1 ironstone Mine were situated about 2.5 km north of East Suisnish pier and worked the Jurassic (Upper Lias) age siderite and chamosite ores from 1914 to 1920. The mine was owned and developed by William Baird & Co. who also built the terraces of houses in the village of Inverarish to house the mine workers, many of whom were German prisoners of war. A tramway and incline connected the mine to the processing works (crusher, calcining kilns, gantries, loading hoppers) at East Suisnish. A second pair of mine adits (Raasay No.2 Ironstone Mine) just north of Inverarish were also opened up around the same time but never went into proper production due to geological difficulties (faulting). There was also a small amount of opencast outcrop mining carried out near the No.1 Mine, again around the same time. The works were dismantled by 1943 but the site is now a scheduled protected monument. A view of the works in 1917 is here: geoscenic.bgs.ac.uk/asset-bank/action/viewAsset?id=1343

Close-up view of the Byers anchor fluke with its swastika symbol. The anchor was used to aid ships to be kept in position on East Suisnish pier while the ore was being loaded. It was made by W. L. Byers of Sunderland perhaps in the early years of the 20th century, and like many of their anchors, it has the swastika symbol on one of the flukes. The swastika has been around for many centuries as a symbol of good luck, and in this instance has absolutely nothing to do with the Nazis who subsequently appropriated it for their own dark purposes.