Misc. Hamilton History

1876

The Cadzow Colliery Company's Pits
The process of " winning" or reaching the coal at two out of the three perpendicular shafts which hare been sunk by the Cadzow Colliery Company (Limited) at Lowwaters has been successfully accomplished. The mineral was first struck in No. 2 pit on the 3d ult, and at No. 3 pit on the 26th The coalfield, which covers an area of upwards of 500 acres, has been leased by the company from the Duke of Hamilton. [Scotsman 4 March 1876]

1880

Robert M'Farlane, labourer, pleaded guilty before Sheriff Birnie at Hamilton, yesterday, of having smoked in No. 1 Pit, Cadzow Colliery, near a place where explosive gas was known to be issuing from the coal in great volume, thus endangering the lives of thirty persons employed in the mine. The Sheriff sentenced him to three months' imprisonment. [Scotsman 18 September 1880]

1881

Peter Eadie Thomson, fireman, Cadzow Colliery , was in Hamilton Sheriff Court on Saturday, found guilty of having used an open lamp, and endangered the safety of sixty persons in the ell seam of the colliery. He was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment. [Scotsman 4 July 1881]

1918

£10, 000 Fire At Burnbank – 24 Miners' Families Homeless
By a fire at Albany Buildings, Burnbank, on Saturday night, twenty-four -workmen's houses were destroyed and as many families rendered homeless. The building formed one of three blocks, each containing some 60 houses belonging to John Watson (Limited), in whose adjacent colliery at Earnock the workmen are employed. The fire originated in the centre of the block, and spread with great rapidity to one end, the other portion being saved by Hamilton firemen. Much of the household furniture was lost. The total damage is estimated at £10,000. The property was insured, but few of the household effects were so covered. Prompt arrangements were made yesterday by representatives of Hamilton Town Council and John Watson (Limited) for accommodating the homeless families, consisting of about 150 men, women, and children, and meantime all have been provided for. [Scotsman 12 August 1918]

1919

Lanarkshire Pits Closed Down – 10,000 Men Idle
It was gathered at the Lanarkshire miners' headquarters last night that the situation in the coalfield is serious. Bent Colliery, Hamilton, oho of the largest in the county, booked off last night till further notice, and Hamilton Palace colliery, belonging to the same company, is practically in a similar position. Greenfield Colliery, Burnbank, will be idle today. Practically all the pits in the Larkhall district closed down last, night. John Watson's Earnock Colliery ceased work last night, and it is expected that their Neilsland colliery will follow today. In some cases efforts are being made to bing coal, and this may keep some collieries working. Meantime the above stoppages affect anything up to 10,000 men. [Scotsman 30 September 1919]

1932

Hamilton Colliery Idle – For the first time in many years, Earnock Colliery, Burnbank, Hamilton, belonging to John Watson Ltd, was idle yesterday owing to bad trace. Over 300 men were thrown out of work by the cessation of operations. [Scotsman 27 May 1932]

More Work For Hamilton Miners - Notices were posted at Cadzow Colliery, Hamilton , on Saturday announcing that the colliery would commence operations today on full time. The colliery, which employs about 500 men, was placed on half time about two months before the beginning of the Fair holidays. [Scotsman 1 August 1932]

Hamilton Miners on Short Time
Miners employed at Cadzow Colliery, Hamilton, have again been placed on short time. After the Fair holidays they resumed on full time, but owing to lack of orders it has been found necessary to cut down the working hours again. The colliery supplies much coal to Ireland. [Scotsman 3 September 1932]

1933

Miners On Short Time - Effect in Hamilton District - Nearly 4000 Men Affected
As a result of the decision of the colliery companies to introduce short time, a severe blow has been dealt to the mining communities in Hamilton and district. In some cases the miners have lost as many as three days a week, and in the Hamilton district, where two of the collieries affected Cadzow and Earnock - were the only remaining collieries of any magnitude, nearly 4000 miners have been placed on short time.

The collieries affected are:- Cadzow. Hamilton, 700; Hamilton Palace, Hamilton, 600; South Longrigg, Larkhall, 200; Ferniegair, Hamilton, 300; and Earnock, Hamilton, 600. At Earnock Colliery over 100 miners have been entirley suspended, and the remainder are on short time, while at South Longrigg the men, who had already lost three days' work last week, were only saved from a longer period of idleness by a last minute order which will provide work for only a few days. Many of the collieries which have been working six days, a week are now only working five days a week.

There is of course, a slackening off in the mining industry about this time every year, but the exceptionally fine weather has made matters worse, and orders are dropping off. At all the collieries waggons are lying full waiting disposal, while there are also hundreds of tons stacked at the surface.

In an interview, Mr Wm. B. Small, general secretary of the Lanarkshire Miners' Union, said they could hold out no hope for an improvement in the immediate future. [Scotsman 10 April 1933]

1935

Colliery To Close - Last Hamilton Mine to be Worked
Hamilton's last colliery, Greenfield colliery, Burnbank, will close to-morrow. Over a hundred men will lose their employment.

The colliery was opened 72 years ago, and employed as many as 1100 men. Some time ago it was found that the workings were being rapidly exhausted, and last year No. 2 pit was abandoned. Work continued at No. 1 pit, but recently it was found that the only seams workable were approaching the foundations of the shaft. A. few men will be retained for surface work. Most of the men employed belong to outlying districts, and are not residents of Hamilton.

Fears were entertained that Whistleberry colliery, which is just outside the burgh colliery and belongs to the same company, Archibald Russell (Ltd.), would be affected. It was ascertained yesterday, however that Whistleberry colliery will continue to operate.

After tomorrow there will be no colliery working within the boundaries of Hamilton, while only three - Earnock, Cadzow, and Whistleberry - works on its borders. At one time there were seven collieries inside Hamilton, and eight on its outskirts. [Scotsman 31 January 1935]

1938

Lanarkshire School Which May Be Closed - Decline of a Mining Village
The decline of one of Lanarkshire's former thriving villages is evidenced by the decision of Lanarkshire Education Committee to consider the question of closing Dykehead Primary School at Udston, near Burnbank Hamilton. At one time there were 200 children on the school roll, and now there are 4, one of whom is actually under school age. When Udston colliery was working, the little village, which lies on the minor road between Hamilton and East Kilbride, had 80 houses, and was one of the most prosperous mining villages in the West of Scotland. Following the General Strike in 1926, the colliery closed down, and gradually the miners moved to other districts. The majority of the houses were condemned about two years ago, and the inhabitants transferred to Eddlewood housing scheme. Now only three houses remain, and the tenants are likely to be soon accommodated elsewhere . A small Committee of the Education Committee has been appointed to report on the position, and it is understood the parents have been asked to decide which school they wish their children to attend. Glenlee School and Greenfield School at Burnbank are the nearest schools. Before the children can be transferred the sanction of the Education Department must be obtained. [Scotsman 14 February 1938]

Harry Lauder as Miner

Most people know that Harry Lauder started life as a collier in the black country of the west of Scotland. He has been telling the “New York World” some of his experiences in those early days. “I was entombed once for 6 long hours. It seemed like 6 years. There were no visible means of getting out either – we had just to wait. I was once right next to a cave-in when my fire boss was buried alive. As we were working and chatting a big stone twice as big as a trunk came tumbling down on my mate from overhead, doubling him like a jack-knife. It squeezed his face right down on the floor. God knows I wasn't strong enough to lift that rock alone, but by superhuman efforts I did. This gave him a chance to breathe and then I shouted. Some men 70 yards away heard me and came and got him out alive. A chap who worked beside me was killed along with 71 others at Udston, and all they could identify him with was his pin leg. I wasn't there that day. [Glasgow Evening Times January 8 1910]