Preston Island

Meaning of name	named after Sir Robert Preston
Location
Preston Island Preston Island shown within Scotland
OS grid reference	NT004856
Coordinates	56°03′11″N 3°36′00″W / 56.053°N 3.600°W / 56.053; -3.600
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

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.

History

Preston Island, south of Low Valleyfield in the Firth of Forth, was reclaimed by Sir Robert Preston, 6th Baronet 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

56°3′12″N 3°36′0″W / 56.05333°N 3.60000°W / 56.05333; -3.60000

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