Housing Conditions of Miners

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

Lesmahagow Parish

Table I shows that there are 7 mines at present in operation, and give employment to 1716 workmen. The total number of houses in the parish is 2343, while the number occupied by miners is 842, or 35.93 per cent of the total. The population of the parish at each decennial census since 1851 is as follows:-
1851 7746
1861 9266
1871 8709
1881 9949
1891 9752
1901 10954

Arden Coal Co., Ltd., 196 St Vincent Street, Glasgow

Poneil Mine – situated near Coalburn
Persons employed underground 114; above ground 19, total 133
The employees reside in the following localities:- in mine owners' houses situated at Bankend, 58; in rented houses situated at Auchenheath and Blackwood district, 31; Coalburn 17; Lanark 18; and Lesmahagow 3; in houses owned by miners situated at Coalburn 4; and Auchenheath 2.

Bankend – one row of five blocks – 20 houses – 4 one apartment, rental £5 4s; 16 two apartments, rental £6 10s. Row of three houses of two apartments, rental £7 3s; row of 12 one apartment houses, rental £5 4s; 1 house of two apartments; row of 7 houses of two apartments, rental £6 10s. The last row was re-roofed 17 years ago, and is in good repair.

These houses were erected at least 80 years ago – stone built – no damp-proof course – plastered on solid walls – wood ceilings – wood floors, not ventilated – some houses are damp. With the exception of four to houses, where felt had been placed below the slates a number of years ago, the roofs are not watertight.
No gardens – washhouse for each house – coal cellars
Pail privy for each house
No sinks – surface channels
Gravitation water supply, standpipe in front of row.
Scavenged at owners' expense. Ashpit in a broken down condition

Sawdust Row – 4 houses of two apartments, rental £6 10 s

These are constructed outside and inside with wood, and sawdust packed between – slate roof – brick fireplace and chimney.
Garden for each house – washhouses – coal cellars
Pail closet for each house
No sinks – surface channels leading to underground drainage system
Gravitation water supply, standpipe in front of the row
Scavenged at owners' expense

William Barr & Sons, Larkhall

Bellfield Mine – situated near Coalburn
Persons employed underground 570; above ground 90; total 660
The employees reside in the following localities:- in miner-owners' houses situated at Coalburn and Netherburn, 124; in rented houses situated at Lanark, Ponfeigh, Douglas, Lesmahagow, Blackwood, Auchenheath, and Netherburn, 536

The mine-owners' houses, 75 in number, may be described in groups as follows:-
Bellfield Terrace – 18 two apartments, rental £7 16s to £8 9s, 6 of these are charged 19s 6d extra fro electric light; 6 four apartments, rental £10 8s, with an extra charge of £1 1s 8d for electric light.

The houses were built under the Building Bye-laws – brick built – one row of 12 houses of one storey, and one row of 12 houses of two storeys.
No overcrowding – apartments good size
No gardens – five washhouses with boiler – coal cellar for each house
Six privies – one ashpit
Sinks in scullery – underground drainage system
Gravitation waters supply in each house
Scavenged once a week at the owners' expense

Tinto View – 14 houses of two apartments, rental £7 3s – 6 houses are two storeys – brick built – recent construction. Other conditions are similar to that at Bellfield terrace, except that the water supply is by standpipe at the rear of the houses.

Old Bellfield – 6 one apartment, rental £3 5s; 12 two apartments, rental £4 11s

The houses are one storey, brick and cement built – no damp-proof course – plastered on solid walls – wood floors in 15 and cement in 3, not ventilated – wood ceilings in some and in others plaster.
No overcrowding – apartments good size
Gardens no cultivated – three wash houses, but only two in use – coal cellar for each house
Privy for every three houses – two ashpits
No sinks – surface channels
Gravitation water supply by two standpipes in front of the houses
Scavenged once a week at owners' expense
These houses are in excellent repair, and the sanitary conveniences are of recent construction

Netherton, Coalburn – 6 two apartment houses, rental £7 6s

These houses were originally a farm steading – stone built – no damp proof course
No garden – one washhouse – no coal cellar
One privy
No sink – surface channels
Gravitation water supply
Scavenged once a week at owners' expense

Netherburn – 13 two apartment houses, rental £8 9s. Situated in the Middle Ward District

Caprington and Auchlochan Collieries, Coalburn

Auchlochan Mine – situated near Coalburn
Persons employed underground 448; above ground 89; total 537
145 employees reside in mine-owners' houses situated near the colliery. Many employees live a considerable distance from the colliery, and travel by train. Others reside in rented houses in the neighbourhood.

The mine-owners' houses, 90 in number, may be described as follows:- Consists of three rows – 23 one apartment, rental from £3 18s to £4 6s 8d; 35 two apartments,rental from £4 0s 2d to £8 0s 4d; 27 three apartments, rental from £6 10s to £7 10s; 5 four apartments, rental from £6 to £12 0s 6d. The rentals include payment of occupiers' rates and taxes.
Two of the rows are one storey, stone built – no damp-proof course – plastered on solid walls – wood floors, not ventilated

Garden for each house – no washhouses – no coal cellars
Privy middens
no sinks – surface channels
Gravitation water supply, standpipe
Scavenged once a fortnight

The other row is two storeys, brick built – erected under Building Bye-laws

Garden for each house – washhouse for each house – coal cellar for each house
Pail privies
Slop sinks at the back doors connected with underground drainage system
Gravitation water supply
Scavenging is carried out about once a fortnight

William Howie, Auchenheath

Auchenheath Mine – situated near Auchenheath
Persons employed underground, 22; above ground, 8; total 30
The employees reside in the following localities:- in rented houses situated at Auchenheath, 13; in houses owned by miners situated at Lesmahagow, 1; Stonebyres, 1; Auchenheath, 2; and Dillarburn, 1.
There are no houses owned by the company

MacRae & Harrison, Kirkmuirhill

Auchenheath Mine – situated near Auchenheath
Persons employed underground, 5; above ground, 1; total 6
The employees reside in the following localities:- in rented houses situated at Kirkmuirhill, 5; and Auchenheath, 1.
There are no houses owned by the company

Waddell & Son, Coalburn

Auchenbegg Mine – situated near Coalburn
Persons employed underground 223; above ground, 17; total, 240
The employees reside in the following localities:- in mine-owners' houses situated at Auchenbegg, Shoulderigg, Porterhall, High Stockbriggs, and Meadows, 20; in houses rented by miners situated at Lanark, Auchenheath, Lesmahagow, Blackwood, Tillietudlem, Crossford, 220

The mine-owners' houses may be described as follows:-
Auchenbegg, High Stockbriggs, Meadows, and Porterhall – 17 houses – 4 one apartment, rental £3 18s; 13 two apartments, rental varying from £4 6s to £6

The houses are one storey, stone built – no damp-proof course – plastered on solid walls – wood floors, not ventilated
No overcrowding – apartments good size
Gardens – no washhouses – no coal cellars
Privy midden of recent construction
Gravitation water supply
Scavenged at owners' expense

Shoulderigg – 7 houses – 6 two apartments, rental £8 2s 6d; 1 three apartments, occupied by overseer, rent free

The houses were erected two years ago under the Building Bye-laws – one storey, brick built
No overcrowding – apartments good size
Garden for each house, cultivated – wash house – coal cellar
Privy for each house – two ashpits
No sinks – surface channels connected with underground drainage system
Gravitation water supply, standpipe
Scavenged at owners' expense

Dalquhandy Mine – situated near Coalburn
Persons employed underground 75; above ground, 35; total 110
The employees reside in the following localities:- in mine owners' houses situated at Dalquhandy Colliery, 2; in rented houses situated at Auchenheath, Blackwood, Crossford, Lanark, Lesmahagow, Tillietudlem, 108

The mine owners' houses are 2 two apartments, rental, exclusive of taxes, £6 10s

The houses are one storey, brick built, faced with cement (rough cast) – floors above ground level – comparatively new and in good repair
No overcrowding – apartments good size
Garden for every house – no washhouses – no coal cellars
Privy placed so that the faeces drop into the burn
No sinks – surface channels
Gravitation water supply from standpipe