Preston Island
Preston Island is a former artificial island in the Firth of Forth, Scotland. The reclaimed land was once used for salt production, using local coal. It is part of Fife.
| Meaning of name | named after Sir Robert Preston |
|---|---|
| Location | |
  Preston Island Preston Island shown within Scotland | |
| OS grid reference | NT004856 |
| Coordinates | 56.053°N 3.600°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Islands of the Forth |
| Highest elevation | <10 m |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Fife |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
 | |
History
Preston Island, south of Low Valleyfield in the Firth of Forth, was reclaimed by Sir Robert Preston in the early 19th century.[1] A sea wall was constructed, followed by buildings and a coal mine, producing coal for the production of salt in saltpans on the island.[2][3]
Two further coal shafts were in development when a fatal firedamp explosion occurred in 1811, after which the mine was closed.[2][4]
Salt production continued for some decades, under lease from Preston.[3] The buildings later housed an illicit distillery.[1] Several well-maintained ruins remain.
The 'island' is no longer surrounded by water, following further land reclamation, using ash from the nearby Longannet power station.[2]
Footnotes
- "Nature reserve on island". West Fife Villages. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
- "Preston Island". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
- Ewart, Gordon; Stewart, David; Dunn, Andrew (1996). "Preston Island: archaeological research and excavations" (PDF). Tayside and Fife Archaeological Journal. 2: 1.
- Cunningham, Andrew (1902). "Extracts from Romantic Culross, Torryburn, Carnock, Cairneyhill, Saline and Pitfirrane". Scottish Mining Website. Retrieved 23 May 2016.