Housing Conditions of Miners

Extracted from "The Housing Condition of Miners" Report by the Medical Officer of Health, Dr John T. Wilson, 1910

Cambusnethan Parish

Coal mining has been carried out in this parish from very early times. The census population of the parish, including the Burgh of Wishaw is as follows:-

1851 8621
1861 14601
1871 20326
1881 20823
1891 22709
1901 28393

Table 1 shows that the parish contains 14 collieries, in which 1,874 persons are employed.
The total number of houses in the parish, excluding the Burgh of Wishaw, is 2,848, while the number occupied by miners is 1029, that is 36.13% of the total. Of these, 551 have been provided by miner owners, 448 are rented by miners and 30 are owned by miners

The principal villages in this parish are Bonkle, Chapel, Crindledyke, Morningside, Newmains, Netherton, Overtown, Stane and Waterloo

Thomas Barr's Trustees

Cambusnethan Mine - Now dismantled and no miners' houses connected with this mine

Chapel Coal Co Ltd

Chapel and Hyndshaw Mines - Situated near Morningside
Persons employed underground 350, above ground 80, total 430

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Chapel and Morningside 202
The others mostly reside in rented houses situated at Newmains, Waterloo, Overtown, Law, Carluke and Wishaw

The houses owned or leased by the company number 205 and are described in 9 groups as follows:-

1. Torbush, Morningside - leased by the company
23 Two-apartment houses Rental £2 15s

  • Brick built - Erected about 60 years ago - no damp-proof course - Plastered on solid - Brick floors in nearly all houses, but a few have been renewed with wood, unventilated - Internal surface of walls and ceilings patched and irregular - No overcrowding - apartments large
  • No gardens - no washhouses - no coal cellars
  • One large open privy midden at west end of row, 30 yards distant
  • Sinks outside - drainage by surface channels
  • Gravitation water from standpipe at east end of row
  • Scavenged at lessees' expense

2. Torbush Square, Morningside
20 Two-apartment houses Rental £7 2s

  • Built under the Building Bye Laws 10 years ago - One storey, brick built - Damp-proof course - Hollow walls, plastered on brick - Wood floors, ventilated - Internal surface of walls and ceilings in good condition
  • No overcrowding - apartments large
  • No garden ground - sculleries provided with boilers, used as washhouses - coal cellars provided
  • 3 privy middens in centre of square
  • Sinks in sculleries with gravitation water
  • Scavenged regularly at lessees' expense

3. Morningside Square - Leased by the company from the superior
35 One-apartment houses Rental £2 2s

  • Erected about 60 years ago - One storey, stone built - no damp-proof course - Plastered on solid - Brick floors, some wood, unventilated - Internal surface of walls and ceilings broken, patched and irregular
  • No overcrowding - apartments large
  • No garden ground - no wash houses - no coal cellars
  • Privy midden in centre of square
  • No sinks- drainage by surface channels
  • Gravitation water from one standpipe at a considerable distance from some of the dwellings
  • Scavenged at lessees' expense
  • These houses have been frequently inspected during the last few years, and negotiation have been proceeding with the superiors and with the mine owners, who are lessees, with the view of either having them closed or provided with proper domestic and sanitary conveniences

Notes on Morningside Square- Houses gutted and repaired. Scullery with sink and water supply, with boiler. Coal cellar for each house, ash closet for each. Scavenged every morning by owners.

4. Binnie's Row and others
17 One-apartment houses Rental £2 2s
26 Two-apartment houses Rental £3 12s

  • One storey, brick built - Erected about 40 years ago - no damp-proof course - Plastered on solid - Floors in Binnie's Row brick, floors in New Row wood, ventilated - Internal surface of walls and ceilings patched and irregular
  • No overcrowding - apartments large
  • No garden ground - no wash houses - coal cellars in New Row only
  • 4 privy middens, 30 feet in front of houses in New Row, and 10 feet from end of houses in Binnie's Row
  • No sinks- drainage by surface channels
  • Gravitation water from standpipe on street
  • Scavenged at lessees' expense

5. School Row, Chapel
6 Two-apartment houses Rental £5 6s

  • One storey, brick built - Erected about 45 years ago - no damp-proof course - Plastered on solid - Some floors wood, unventilated, other brick - Internal surface of walls and ceilings in good order
  • No overcrowding - apartments large
  • Gardens in front of houses - common wash houses - coal cellars
  • Two privy middens, about 30 feet distant in front gardens
  • Outside sinks - drainage underground
  • Gravitation water from standpipe about 30 feet distant
  • Scavenged at owners' expense

6. Chapel Road Cottages
7 Two-apartment houses Rental £4 to £5 6s

  • One storey, stone built - Erected about 45 years ago - no damp-proof course - Plastered on solid - Some floors wood, unventilated, other brick - Internal surface of walls and ceilings in good order
  • No overcrowding - apartments large
  • Gardens in front of houses- common wash houses - coal cellars
  • Two privy middens, about 30 feet distant, in front gardens
  • Outside sinks - drainage underground
  • Gravitation water from standpipe about 30 feet distant
  • Scavenged at owners' expense

7. Chapel Square
19 One-apartment houses Rental £3
5 Two-apartment houses Rental £4 2s

  • One storey, brick built - Erected about 40 years ago - no damp-proof course - Plastered on brick - Some floors wood, unventilated, other brick - Internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition
  • No overcrowding - apartments large
  • Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash houses - no coal cellars
  • Privy midden in centre of square, about 40 feet from houses
  • No sinks- drainage by surface channels
  • Gravitation water from standpipe at end of square about 20 feet from houses
  • Scavenged at owners' expense

8. Old Row, Chapel
9 One-apartment houses Rental £2 15s

  • Stone built, thatched roofs - Erected over 60 years ago - no damp-proof course - Walls plastered on solid - Brick floors - internal surface of walls and ceilings in poor condition
  • No overcrowding - apartments fair size
  • Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash houses - a few coal cellars
  • Privy midden in front of houses, about 40 feet distant
  • No sinks- drainage by surface channels
  • Gravitation water from standpipe on street about 50 yards from houses
  • Scavenged at owners' expense

9. Mitchell Place, Chapel
28 Two-apartment houses Rental £6 10s

  • Built under the Building Bye Laws about 9 years ago
  • One storey, brick built - Damp-proof course - Hollow walls, plastered on brick - Wood floors, ventilated - Internal surface of walls and ceilings in good order
  • No overcrowding - apartments large
  • Garden ground available, some cultivated - sculleries and coal cellar to each houses - scullery used as wash house
  • Two privy middens about 30 feet in rear of buildings
  • Outside slop sinks
  • Gravitation water from standpipes at rear of houses
  • Scavenged at owners' expense

Coltness Iron Company, Ltd

Bailliesmuir Mine - Situated at Newmains
Persons employed underground 161, above ground 22 , total 183

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Newmains 12, Cambusnethan 4 , Waterloo 1
In rented houses, situated at Newmains 56, Cambusnethan 71, Waterloo 18, Morningside 8, Elsewhere 7
In houses owned by employees at Newmains &c. 6


Collyshot Mine - Situated near Newmains
Persons employed underground 21 , above ground 3 , total 24

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Newmains 3, Cambusnethan 1
In rented houses, situated at Cambusnethan 11, Newmains 5, Elsewhere 3
In a house owned by a miner at Wishaw 1


Garriongill Mine - Situated at Overtown
Persons employed underground 245, above ground 50, total 295

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Overtown 4, Waterloo 4
In rented houses, situated at Overtown 191, Waterloo 47, Wishaw 45, Gillhead 1
In houses owned by employees at Overtown 2, Waterloo 1


Herdshill Mine - Near Newmains
Persons employed underground 300, above ground 40, total 340

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Newmains 26, Waterloo 30 , Cambusnethan 3
In rented houses, situated at Cambusnethan 83 , Newmains 51, Gillhead 40, Waterloo 37, Overtown 30, Bogside 14, Loch View 8, Morningside 5, Bonkle 4, Carluke 2
In houses owned by employees at Bogside 3, Newmains 1, Loch View 1, Waterloo 1, Cambusnethan 1


The mine owners' houses number 382 and are described in 5 groups as follows:-

1. Stone Row, Overtown
12 One-apartment houses Rental £3 15s
12 Two-apartment houses Rental £6 1s

  • Erected about 35 years ago - One storey, stone built - no damp-proof course - Plastered on solid - Floors wood, some ventilated - Internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition - Back wall damp
  • No overcrowding  apartments large
  • Garden space unused - wash houses - coal cellars
  • Privy for each house
  • No sinks - drainage by open channels
  • Gravitation water in front of houses
  • Scavenged at owners' expense

2. Bartonhall Row, Waterloo
42 One-apartment houses Rental £6 6s

  • Erected about 40 years ago - One storey, brick built - no damp-proof course - Plastered on solid - Wood floors, ventilated - Internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition
  • No overcrowding - apartments large
  • Gardens (few cultivated) - scullery in each houses used as wash house and coal cellar
  • 3 privy middens, 14 yards in rear of houses
  • Gravitation water from standpipe in front of houses
  • Scavenged at owners' expense

3. Leslie Place and Main Street, Newmains
63 Two-apartment houses Rental £6 6s to £11 9s

  • Erected over 35 years ago - Two storey, stone - no damp-proof course - Plastered on solid - Wood floors, ventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings good
  • No overcrowding - apartments large
  • No garden ground - common wash houses - coal cellars
  • 6 privy middens at rear
  • Outside sinks on stairhead for upper floor- surface channels for lower flat
  • Gravitation water from standpipe in rear
  • Scavenged at owners' expense

Notes on Leslie Place and Main Street, Newmains - A WC had been provided for each of the 24 houses in Main Street, and the privy middens have been abolished

4. Manse Road
29 Two-apartment houses Rental £5 10s
Brown Street
48 Two-apartment houses Rental £6 6s
7 Three-apartment houses Rental £8
5 Four-apartment houses Rental £12 12s
Hope Street
21 One-apartment houses Rental £5 7s
24 Two-apartment houses Rental £6 6s
1 Three-apartment house Rental £6 17s
Newmains Row
48 One-apartment houses Rental £4
Stable Court
7 One-apartment houses Rental £3 3s to £4 11s
1 Two-apartment house Rental £6 6s
1 Four-apartment house Rental £7 15s
Burnside Row
15 One-apartment houses Rental £2 17s
18 Two-apartment houses Rental £3 9s

  • Burnside and Newmains Rows were erected over 70 years ago. The others from 40 to 28 years ago - One storey, stone built - no damp-proof course - Plastered on solid - Brick floors in older houses, others wood, some ventilated - Internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition
  • Some garden space (mostly uncultivated) - no wash houses in Burnside and Newmains Rows and Stable Court, but a few coal cellars - other houses have sculleries, used as wash houses and coal cellars
  • 19 privy middens, behind and in front houses
  • No sinks - drainage by open channels in rear
  • Gravitation water from standpipes on street
  • Scavenged at owners' expense

Notes on Manse Road - A WC has been provided for each house
Notes on Brown Street - WCs have been provided for each houses, also slop sink with water supply and clothes boiler fitted into existing scullery
Notes on Hope Street- A WC has been provided for each house
Notes on Burnside Row - A WC has been provided for every 2 houses and improved sink and water supply

5. Houldsworth Street and Victoria Street, Newmains
24 Two-apartment houses Rental £9 7s
4 Three-apartment houses Rental £13 14s

  • Built under the Building Bye Laws 9 years ago - One storey, brick built - Damp-proof course - Hollow walls, plastered on brick - Wood floors, ventilated - Internal surface of walls and ceilings in good order
  • No overcrowding - apartments large
  • Garden ground for each house, all cultivated - scullery to each house with boiler - coal cellars provided
  • One pail privy to every 4 two-apartment houses - the three-apartment houses have each a pail privy
  • Outside sinks - one for every two houses
  • Gravitation water from standpipes at rear of houses
  • Drainage underground
  • Scavenged regularly at owners' expense

Notes on Houldsworth Street and Victoria Street, Newmains - The privies here have been demolished and a WC provided for each house

Kepplehill Coal Co Ltd

Kepplehill Mine
Persons employed underground 90, above ground 11, total 101

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Stane Place, Springhill Place and Manse Road, Stane 48
In rented houses, situated at Dykehead 20, Allanton 8, Stane 17, Daviesdykes 8

Stane Mine
Persons employed underground 180, above ground 25, total 205

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Stane Place, Springhill Buildings and Manse Road, Stane 168
In rented houses, situated at Dykehead 12, Allanton 5, Stane 14
In houses owned by employees 6

The mine owners' houses are described as follows:

Manse Buildings, Stane
24 Two-apartment houses Rental £6 6s

  • Two storey, brick built -Erected about 12 or 14 years ago

Springhill Buildings, Stane
36 Two-apartment houses Rental £5 10s

  • Two storey, brick built - Erected about 12 or 14 years ago

Stane Place
44 Two-apartment houses Rental £5 10s

  • Two storey, brick built - Erected 11 years ago, under Building Bye Laws
  • Damp-proof course - Hollow walls, plastered on brick - Wood floors, ventilated - Internal surface of walls and ceilings in good order
  • No overcrowding - apartments fair size
  • No garden ground - sculleries, without boilers, used as wash houses - coal cellars provided
  • Pail privies, one to every 4 houses - kept in a foul state. Frequent complaint has been made as to foul condition of privies, ashpits, and surrounding ground
  • Outside sinks
  • Water supply from standpipes at gable of houses
  • Scavenger employed by owners

Stane Place
72 One-apartment back to back houses Rental £4 10s

  • Erected 11 years ago, under Building Bye Laws - One storey, brick built - Damp-proof course - Hollow walls, plastered on brick - Wood floors, ventilated - Internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition
  • No overcrowding - apartments large
  • No garden ground - no wash houses - no coal cellars
  • Pail privies, one to every 4 houses - kept in a foul state.
  • Outside sinks
  • Gravitation water from standpipes at gable of buildings
  • Scavenger employed by owners
  • Complaints have frequently been made as to condition of conveniences and surroundings

John Leggate & Sons

Thornlie Mine - Situated in Burgh of Wishaw
Persons employed underground 35, above ground 10 , total 45

Waterloo Mine - Near Wishaw
Persons employed underground 12, above ground 4 , total 16

There are no houses owned by the mine owners. The employees reside:
In rented houses, situated at Waterloo 11
In houses owned by employees at Gillhead and Carluke 2

Marshall & Hunter

Calderburn & Overtown Mines
Persons employed 40

There are no houses owned by the mine owners and the employees all reside in rented houses in the neighbourhood

Moss Coal Co.

Moss Mine - Situated in Burgh of Wishaw
Persons employed underground 8 , above ground 2 , total 10

United Collieries Ltd

Belhaven Mine - Situated in Burgh of Wishaw
Persons employed underground 145, above ground 40, total 185

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Ravenscraig 35, Motherwell Burgh 58
In rented houses, situated at Craigneuk 92
One employee owns a house in Motherwell Burgh

The mine owners' houses situated in the county are described as follows:

Ravenscraig Rows
38 One-apartment houses Rental £4 11s
11 Two-apartment houses Rental £6 10s to £10 8s
1 Four-apartment house

  • Erected about 55 years ago - One storey, brick built - Mostly back to back - no damp-proof course - Walls plastered on solid - Some floors brick, some cement and others wood - internal surface of walls and ceilings irregular and broken - A number of houses are in a dilapidated condition - Walls are damp
  • No overcrowding - apartments good size
  • No garden ground - no wash houses - no coal cellars
  • Two large privy middens, about 35 feet from houses
  • No sinks- drainage by surface channels
  • Gravitation water from standpipes
  • Scavenged at owners' expense

Groups of houses in Cambusnethan Parish occupied mostly by miners, but not belonging to any mine-owner

At Overtown three lots of miners' dwellings were erected about 40 years ago by mine owners, and these houses are now in possession of the superior. They are of unique construction, in respect that each house has its own domestic and sanitary conveniences. The privy has an arrangement for receiving dry household refuse, and thus acts like an earth closet.

1. Wemyss Row
46 One-apartment houses Rental £3 12s
Orchard Row
36 Two-apartment houses Rental £5 4s
Boyd's Row
20 One-apartment houses Rental £3 18s
13 Two-apartment houses Rental £5 4s

  • One storey, brick built - Roofs of Wemyss and Orchard Rows circular, covered with tarred felt, others slated - no damp-proof course - Plastered on solid - some floors brick, others wood, some ventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings irregular, broken and damp
  • No overcrowding - apartments large
  • Gardens (not all cultivated) - scullery for each houses, with boiler for washing and coal cellar
  • Privy for each house
  • Outside sinks in front of Wemyss Row only
  • Drainage at others by surface channels
  • Gravitation water in front of houses
  • Scavenged at owners' expense

Notes on Wemyss Row - 46 one-apartment houses. 22 of these have now been demolished

2. Clydesdale Row
46 Two-apartment houses Rental £6 16s

  • Formerly occupied by men employed in mines and wagon works which have been discontinued. The property has reverted to the superior and the houses are occupied by miners, iron workers, labourers, engineers &c.
  • Erected about 45 years ago - Single storey, brick built - no damp-proof course - Plastered on solid - wood floors, unventilated - Internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition
  • No overcrowding - apartments large
  • Garden ground, uncultivated - wash houses - coal cellars
  • 6 open privies, 20 feet from back wall of house
  • No sinks - drainage by surface channel connected to sewer- within a special district
  • Gravitation water from standpipe
  • Scavenged three times weekly - within a special district

3. Castlehill Feus or Sneddons Rows
Originally built for Castlehill mine now discontinued - Houses now privately owned
54 One-apartment houses Rental £3 10s to £5

  • Erected about 60 years ago - One storey, brick built - 20 of houses have circular roofs, covered with tarred felt - no damp-proof course - Plastered on solid - some floors brick, others wood, unventilated - Some floors below level of adjoining ground - internal surface of walls and ceilings irregular and damp - Most of these houses are reported unfit for occupation
  • No overcrowding - apartments large
  • Some gardens, sufficient ground for others - no wash houses - no coal cellars
  • 5 large open privy middens, 30 yards distant, at front of and at end of houses
  • No sinks - drainage by surface channels discharging into ditch
  • Gravitation water from standpipes in front

Notes on Sneddon's Rows - At the 10 two-apartment houses facing the public highway annexes have been built with accommodation for scullery, WC and coal cellar, but these are not yet completed.


     
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