Lady Victoria Colliery: Fines Treatment Plant, Newtongrange

FINES TREATMENT PLANT: Tall, brick structure to the north of the pithead. The surface buildings and plant together form the best preserved pre-First World War model colliery complex in the UK. Complete model colliery comprising brick-built and steel-framed structures with sheet-metal-clad roofs.

The surface buildings and plant together form the best preserved pre-First World War model colliery complex in the UK. Complete model colliery comprising brick-built and steel-framed structures with sheet-metal-clad roofs. (Historic Scotland)

The Fines Treatment Plant cleaned the dirty water from the Dense Medium Plant and was built in 1963-64. The Thickener is a concrete settling pool. (RCAHMS from Museum pamphlet dated 1991)

January 2009: External inspection reveals that the structure is roofless. The openings on the ground floor have been boarded over, while those on the upper levels are open to the elements.

February 2009: The Herald reports that the Museum needs around £2.5 million to repair and restore ranges around the site. Talks with the Scottish Government are reported to be continuing. The Edinburgh Evening News notes that around a third of funding for the museum has been lost following recent cuts in grants from Historic Scotland and Midlothian Council.

17 March 2009: BBC News website advises The Scottish Government has pledged £1.3m for "urgent structural repairs" to the Scottish Mining Museum in Midlothian. The article goes on to note that the long term funding discussions continue. The Edinburgh Evening News also reports the story.

24 May 2012: External inspection finds no significant change from the previous site visit.

2 February 2022: External inspection finds the structures to be in similar condition to previous visit. There are no signs of movement. Timber sheeting used to cover openings at ground level have begun to slip and show signs of weathering, creating gaps in coverage. Established tree growth is visible on top of water tank.