1910 Housing Conditions of Miners

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

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

1851 23201
1861 20554
1871 22752
1881 27816
1891 33743
1901 36786

Table 1 shows that the parish contains 16 collieries in which 2316 persons are employed.

The total number of houses in the parish, exclusive of the Burgh of Airdrie, is 2630, while the number occupied by miners is 1274 - that is 48.44% of the total. Of these houses, 562 have been provided by mine owners, 673 are rented by miners, and 39 are owned by miners

William Baird & Co, Ltd

Bedlay Mine - situated near Glenboig
Persons employed underground 300, above ground 150 ,total 450

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Annathill 250
In rented houses, situated at Glenboig, Mollinsburn, Condorrat, and Coatbridge Burgh 200

The mine owners' houses are described as follows:-

Annathill
127 two-apartment houses Rental £6 5s
13 Three-apartment houses Rental £9 5s

Two-storey, brick built - erected under Building Bye Laws four years ago - Damp-proof course - walls strapped and lathed - wood floors, ventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings good
No overcrowding - apartments large
Garden ground available but not cultivated - wash houses - coal cellars
Twelve privy middens about 40 feet in front of houses, and of such construction that they cannot be used without creating a nuisance.
Outside slop sinks with gravitation water
Drainage by surface channels and underground pipes, flushed automatically with gravitation water
Scavenged daily at owners' expense

Notes on Annathill - WC in the proportion of one for every two houses were provided for the older portion of the village, and the privies abolished. The whole village is now provided with WC accommodation

Gartverrie Fireclay Co

Gartverrie Mine - situated at Glenboig
Persons employed underground 2, above ground 1, total 3

One employee resides in a two-apartment house belonging to the mine owners, situated at Gartverrie, while the other two employees reside in rented houses in Coatbridge Burgh

Peter Cairns

Meadowhead Mine - situated near Whitehead
Persons employed underground 205, above ground 52, total 257

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Meadowhead 8
In rented houses, situated at Plains & Clarkston 154, Whiterigg & Greengairs 85
In houses owned by employees at Airdrie 10

The mine owners' houses are described as follows:-

Meadowhead
4 one-apartment houses Rental £4 6s 8d
2 two-apartment houses Rental £5 13s 6d
2 two-apartment houses Rental £7

One storey, stone built - in three separate groups - erected about 70 years ago - no damp-proof course - plastered on solid - wood floors, ventilated - internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition, although evidence of dampness on inside of main walls
No overcrowding - apartments good size
Garden ground - no wash-houses - some coal cellars
Three privy middens about 30 feet in rear of houses
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe in front of houses
No scavenging done by owners

Dalmacoulter and Loanhead Colliery Co Ltd

Blacktongue Mine - situated near Greengairs
Persons employed underground 80, above ground 11, total 91

There are no houses belonging to the mine owners, the employees reside in the following localities:-
In rented houses, situated at Greengairs 69, High Riggend 6, Riggend 3, Wattstown 6, Slamannan 1
In houses owned by employees at Greengairs 3, Wattstown 3

Darngavil Coal Co Ltd

Darngavil Mine - situated near Greengairs
Persons employed underground 330, above ground 80, total 410

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Greengairs 49, Darngavil 31, Meikle Drumgray 18
In rented houses, situated at Greengairs, Wattstown, Darngavil, Whiterigg, Stanrigg, Avonhead, &c. 142
In houses owned by employees at Greengairs and Darngavil 11

Drumbow Mine - situated near Longriggend
Persons employed underground 165, above ground 31, total 196

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at West Longrigg 17
In rented houses, situated at Longriggend 40, Glengowan 12, Limerigg 12, Slamannan 12, Roughrigg 16, Longrigg 13
In houses owned by employees at Longriggend 3, Limerigg 1, Slamannan 1, Fannyside 2

Longrigg West Mine - situated near Longriggend
Persons employed underground 34, above ground 5, total 39

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at West Longrigg Rows 9
In rented houses, situated at Longriggend 4, Roughrigg 7, Longrigg 2
In houses owned by employees at Longriggend 1, Fannyside 1

The mine owners' houses number 175, and are described in 5 groups as follows:-

1. Rankin's Rows, Greengairs
63 one-apartment houses Rental £3 6s
11 two-apartment houses Rental £6 1s 4d

One storey, 14 houses stone built - erected about 40 years ago - 60 houses, brick built, back to back - erected about 28 years ago - plastered on solid - wood floors, ventilation insufficient - internal surface of walls and ceilings in good condition
No overcrowding - apartments large
Garden ground available for 16 houses but not cultivated, except in two instances - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
Two open privy middens, about 30 yards in rear of houses
Outside sinks at back row- other drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe between rows, immediately in front of houses
Scavenged daily at owners' expense

2. Meikle Drumgray
20 two-apartment houses Rental £5 17s

One storey, brick built - erected about 18 years ago - no damp-proof course - Hollow walls - plastered on brick - wood floors, ventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings in good condition
No overcrowding - apartments good size
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses - Coal cellars
Two open privy middens, about 20 feet in rear of houses
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe immediately in front of rows
Scavenged daily at owners' expense

3. Stone Row and Long Row, Darngavil
10 one-apartment houses Rental £2 18s 6d
2 two-apartment houses Rental £5 12s 6d

One storey, stone built - erected about 100 years ago - no damp-proof course - plastered on solid - floors of wood slabs, unventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings rough and broken - walls damp
No overcrowding - apartments small and low roof
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
One open privy midden about 30 feet in front of houses
No sinks - drainage by open gutters
Gravitation water from standpipe immediately in front of houses
Scavenged daily at owners' expense
Action has been taken with regard to dampness of walls

4. Darngavil Rows
12 one-apartment houses Rental £4 4s 2d

One storey, brick built - erected about 37 years ago - no damp-proof course - walls solid built - plastered on brick - wood floors, unventilated
Internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition
No overcrowding - apartments good size
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
Two open privy middens, about 40 feet in rear of houses
Four outside sinks - drainage underground
Gravitation water from standpipes on gable between two rows
Scavenged daily at owners' expense

5. West Longrigg
30 one-apartment houses Rental £4
27 two-apartment houses Rental £5 and £6
1 three-apartment house Rental £9

One storey, brick built - erected about 40 years ago - no damp-proof course - plastered on solid - wood floors, some ventilated -Internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition
No overcrowding - apartments fairly large
Garden ground available but only partly cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
Three privy middens about 40 feet in front of houses
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe in front of houses
Scavenged weekly at owners' expense

Notes on West Longrigg - Scavenged daily at owners' expense.(Additional handwritten note Houses are now demolished)

Glenboig Union Fireclay Co Ltd

Gain Mine - situated near Glenboig
Persons employed underground 41, above ground 9, total 50

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Glenboig 11
In rented houses, situated at Cumbernauld 2

Glenboig Mine - situated at Glenboig
Persons employed underground 71, above ground 14, total 85

In mine owners' houses, situated at Glenboig 19
In rented houses, situated at Clarkston and Glenboig 13

The mine owners' houses are described as follows:-

Glenboig
95 one-apartment houses Rental £6 14s 4d
52 two-apartment houses Rental £13 8s 8d

One storey, brick built - erected from 18 to 50 years ago - the houses built 20 years ago have damp proof course, others have none - plastered on solid - wood floors, ventilated - internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition
No overcrowding - apartments fairly large
Garden ground available for about half the houses and cultivated - Wash-houses - some coal cellars
10 privy middens, from 20 to 50 feet in front of houses
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe in front of houses
Scavenged regularly at owners' expense
These houses are occupied by all kinds of workmen, who are employed in the brick works, the miners being fireclay only. A few of the houses are occupied by Lithuanians, and these houses are all registered as houses let in lodgings

Hillrigg Coal Co Ltd

Hillrigg Mine - situated near Airdrie
Persons employed underground 50, above ground 9, total 59

There are no houses belonging to the mine owners, the employees reside in the following localities:
In rented houses, situated at Rawyards 17, Airdrie 28, Stand 10, Clarkston 4

Laverocknowe Coal Co

Laverocknowe Mine - situated near Greengairs
Persons employed underground 32, above ground 4, total 36

There are no houses associated with this colliery and the employees reside in rented houses at Rawyards, Stand and Glenmavis

James Nimmo & Co Ltd

Longrigg Mine - situated near Longriggend
Persons employed underground 201, above ground 85, total 286

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Longrigg 42, Lochend 5, West Limerigg 6
In rented houses, situated at Longrigg 14, Limerigg 51, Drumbow 4, Roughrigg 3, Slamannan 6, Avonbridge 3
In houses owned by employees at Limerigg 10

Longriggend Mine - situated near Longriggend
Persons employed underground 217, above ground 24, total 241

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Longriggend 63, Eastfield 36, Auchengray 13
In rented houses, situated at Longriggend 42, Caldercruix 39, Avonhead 2
In houses owned by employees at Longriggend 6

The mine owners' houses number 241 and are described in 5 groups as follows:-

1. Longriggend
20 one-apartment houses Rental £4 19s 8d to £5 12s 6d
58 two-apartment houses Rental £6 14s 6d

One storey, brick built - erected about 30 years ago - no damp-proof course - some hollow walls - plastered on brick - wood floors, ventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings rough and broken - walls damp
No overcrowding - apartments fair size
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
4 open privy middens at east and west end of rows. There are also 6 open ashpits ranged in front of the houses at a distance of from 15 to 20 feet
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from 2 standpipes in front of houses
Scavenged daily at owners' expense
Action has been taken with regard to the insanitary condition of the houses and dampness of walls

Notes on Longriggend - Only 27 of the houses are now occupied

2. East Longrigg
22 one-apartment houses Rental £4 19s 8d
50 two-apartment houses Rental £6 14s 6d

One storey, brick built - erected over 30 years ago - no damp-proof course - Solid walls - plastered on brick - wood floors, ventilation insufficient - internal surface of walls and ceilings rough and broken - walls damp
No overcrowding - kitchens fair size, but back room in two apartment houses small
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
Three open privy middens, about 12 feet in rear of houses
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from 2 standpipes immediately in front of houses
Scavenged regularly at owners' expense
Action has been taken with regard to the insanitary condition of the houses and dampness of walls

Notes on East Longrigg:- The Company provided a tile drain round the foundations, put two coats of cement plaster on outer walls, repaired floors and roofs, had windows made to open, and provided new privies in the proportion of one for every two families and two additional water standpipes

3. Eastfield
20 one-apartment houses Rental £5 12s 6d
40 two-apartment houses Rental £7 7s 4d

One storey, brick built - erected about 24 years ago - no damp-proof course - walls mostly solid - plastered on brick - wood floors, ventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings rough and broken - walls damp
No overcrowding - kitchens fair size, but back room in two apartment houses small
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses- no coal cellars
Two open privy middens, also three separate ashpits, about 20 feet to rear of houses
Gravitation water from 2 standpipes immediately in front of houses
Scavenged regularly at owners' expense
Action has been taken with regard to the insanitary condition of the houses and dampness of walls

Notes on Eastfield:- 20 houses of two-apartments have been reconstructed and WC, coal cellars, washhouses, sinks and sculleries provided. 40 houses have been demolished

4. Auchengray
8 one-apartment houses Rental £4 19s 8d
13 two-apartment houses Rental £5 12s 6d

One storey, brick built - erected about 30 years ago - no damp-proof course - walls solid - plastered on brick - wood floors, ventilation deficient - internal surface of walls and ceilings rough and broken - walls damp
No overcrowding - kitchens fair size, but back room in two apartment houses small
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
2 open privy middens, about 15 feet in front of houses
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe immediately in front of houses
Scavenged occasionally at owners' expense

Notes on Auchengray:- Only one single apartment house occupied; others unoccupied and in a ruinous condition

5. Lochend
4 one-apartment houses Rental £4 10s
6 two-apartment houses Rental £6 10s

One storey, brick built - erected about 30 years ago - no damp-proof course - walls solid - plastered on brick - wood floors, ventilation insufficient - internal surface of walls and ceilings rough and broken - walls damp
No overcrowding - apartments fair size
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
One open privy midden about 20 feet to rear of houses
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe immediately in front of houses
Scavenged occasionally at owners' expense

Notes on Lochend:- Only one single apartment house occupied; others boarded up

W S Russell

Cameron Mine - situated near Greengairs
Persons employed underground 12, above ground 3, total 15

The employees reside in the following localities:-
In mine owners' houses, situated at Wattstown 2
In rented houses, situated at Wattstown, Greengairs, and Low Riggend 5
In houses owned by employees 1

The mine owners' houses are described as follows:-

Wattstown
2 two-apartment houses Rental £5 4s

One storey, stone built - erected about 80 years ago - no damp-proof course - plastered on solid - wood floors, ventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings somewhat rough
No overcrowding - apartments good size
Large garden, uncultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
Privy and ashpit in garden
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe in street about 20 yards distant
No scavenging

Robert Thomson

Langdales Mine - situated near Greengairs
Persons employed underground 16, above ground 2, total 18

There are no houses in connection with this colliery and the employees reside
In rented houses, situated at Longriggend and Greengairs

Wester Moffat Coal Co.

Wester Moffat Mine - situated near Clarkston
Persons employed underground 70, above ground 10, total 80

There are no houses belonging to the mine owners, the employees reside in the following localities
In rented houses, situated at Airdrie and Coatbridge

United Collieries Ltd

This firm does not own any mines in New Monkland Parish now, but they are still the owners of houses at:-

Airdriehill Square, Whiterigg
13 one-apartment houses Rental £4 4s 8d
26 two-apartment houses Rental £6 14s 4d

One storey, brick built - erected about 36 years ago - no damp-proof course - walls plastered on solid - wood floors, ventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings rough, broken, and patched in places - walls damp
No overcrowding - kitchens good size, but back room small, and lit by small window
No garden ground available - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
3 open privy middens about 30 feet in front of houses
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from 2 standpipes immediately in front of houses
Scavenged daily at owners' expense

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

South Stanrigg Rows
These houses were originally erected about 70 or 80 years ago by William Black & Sons, coalmasters, were recently owned by the United Collieries, Ltd; and have now reverted to the superior:
32 one-apartment houses Rental £3 18s

One storey, built of rough rubble - no damp-proof course - plastered on solid - some floors wood, some brick, unventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings in a very rough and broken condition - rough boarding in several houses to ward off damp from main walls
No overcrowding - apartments fair size - ceilings low
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
3 open privy middens about 30 feet in front of houses
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from 2 standpipes immediately in front of houses
Scavenged daily at owners' expense
These houses are in a ruinous condition, and notices have been served on the owners to have them closed.

Notes on South Stanrigg:- After negotiation with owner, houses were all closed, and they have now been demolished

Old Row, Whiterigg
These houses were originally erected about 70 or 80 years ago by William Black & Sons, coalmasters, were recently owned by the United Collieries, Ltd; and have now reverted to the superior

20 one-apartment houses Rental £3 18s

One storey, built of rough rubble - no damp-proof course - plastered on solid - some floors wood, some brick, unventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings in a very rough and broken condition, showing dampness on main walls
No overcrowding - apartments fair size
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
2 open privy middens about 40 feet in front of houses
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe immediately in front of houses
Scavenged daily at owners' expense
These houses are damp and dilapidated, and notices have been served on the owners to have them closed.

Mossbank, Darngavil
Built originally by the Coltness Iron Co Ltd, about 60 years ago, and bought by Mrs Thomas Scotland, Motherwell Street, Rawyards, on the expiry of the company's lease

14 one-apartment houses Rental £3 5s

One storey, stone built - plastered on solid - wood floors, unventilated - internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition - no overcrowding - apartments fair size
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
One privy midden about 100 feet in front of houses
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe immediately in front of houses
No scavenging
Action was taken against proprietrix two years ago in connection with the dilapidated state of conveniences and want of water supply, and certain improvements were afterwards carried out. The houses are in fair order at present

Notes on Mossbank - These have now been demolished

Upperton Rows
Built originally by Upperton Coal Co, but reverted to the superior on expiry of the company's lease
12 one-apartment houses Rental £2 12s
10 two-apartment houses Rental £4 11s

One storey, brick built - erected about 40 years ago - no damp-proof course - plastered on solid - wood floors, ventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings rough, broken, and patched in places - walls damp
No overcrowding - apartments good size
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
One privy midden about 20 yards in rear of houses
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe immediately in front of houses
No scavenging

Notices have been served in connection with the dilapidated condition of the houses and conveniences, but any repairs done were of a trivial nature

North Stanrigg
20 one-apartment houses Rental £3 10s

One storey, stone built - erected about 60 years ago - damp-proof course - plastered on solid - Some floors wood, ventilated, others concrete - internal surface of walls and ceilings rough and broken
No overcrowding - apartments fairly large
No garden ground available - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
2 privy middens between rows
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from 2 standpipes at water channels
Scavenged occasionally at owners' expense

Low Colliertree - Brick Row
8 two-apartment houses Rental £6 6s

One storey, brick built - erected about 15 years ago - no damp-proof course - plastered on solid - wood floors, ventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings in good condition
No overcrowding - apartments large
No garden ground available - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
One large privy midden in centre of square
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe at surface channels
Scavenged weekly at owners' expense

Low Colliertree - Stone Row
11 one-apartment houses Rental £4 5s

One storey, stone built - erected about 60 years ago - no damp-proof course - plastered on solid - wood floors, partly ventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings rough and broken
No overcrowding - apartments fair size
No garden ground available - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
One privy midden in centre of square, used in common with Brick Row
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe at surface channels
Scavenged weekly at owners' expense

Arden
16 one-apartment houses Rental £3 5s to £5 4s

One storey, stone built - erected about 50 years ago - no damp-proof course - plastered on solid - floors concrete - internal surface of walls and ceilings rough in most houses
No overcrowding - apartments large
Garden ground available but mostly uncultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
Two privy middens in front of houses
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe at surface channels
Scavenged weekly at owners' expense

Arden
23 one-apartment houses Rental £3 13s 8d
7 two-apartment houses Rental £6 2s

One storey, stone built - erected about 50 years ago - no damp-proof course - plastered on solid - wood floors, unventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings rough and damp in most houses
No overcrowding - apartments large
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
One privy midden and also open ash pit in front of row
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe at surface channels
Scavenged occasionally at owners' expense

Blacktongue
15 one-apartment houses Rental £3 9s 4d
4 two-apartment houses Rental £6 10s

One storey, brick built - erected about 30 years ago - no damp-proof course - plastered on solid - wood floors, some ventilated - internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition
No overcrowding - apartments fairly large
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
One privy midden in front of row
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe at end of row
Scavenged weekly at owners' expense

Notes on Blacktongue - These have all been demolished

Stand
9 one-apartment houses Rental £2 12s

One storey, stone built - erected about 50 years ago - no damp-proof course - plastered on solid - wood floors, some ventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings rough and broken
No overcrowding - apartments fairly large
Garden ground available but not cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
One open privy midden to rear of row
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipe at end of row
Scavenged weekly at owners' expense

Notes on Stand - After negotiation houses closed, and now demolished

Roughrigg
19 one-apartment houses Rental £2 12s
4 two-apartment houses Rental £4 7s

One storey, brick built - erected about 40 years ago - no damp-proof course - plastered on solid - wood floors, some ventilated - internal surface of walls and ceilings in poor condition
No overcrowding - apartments fairly large
Garden ground available but only partly cultivated - no wash-houses - no coal cellars
2 privy middens, about 20 feet in front of houses
No sinks- drainage by surface channels
Gravitation water from standpipes in front of houses
Scavenged occasionally at owners' expense