1 “A WEE KEEK BACK” AT COAL MINING AND MINERS VOL. VI. ARTICLES EXTRACTED FROM THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS By JIM CAMPBELL Table of Contents LOCAL HIST MK 1 LOCHORE AND CAPLEDRAE CANNEL .................................................. 1 COAL COMPANY......................................................................................... 6 COAL STRUCK IN THE NEW MINE. ........................................................ 6 INFLUENCE OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT .................................................. 7 “A Wee Keek Back” 2 ON THE COAL TRADE................................................................................ 7 DEATH OF A NATIVE OF LOCHGELLY.................................................. 8 IN AMERICA................................................................................................. 8 A REMARKABLE AND SUCCESSFUL CAREER..................................... 8 OLD COAL WORKINGS............................................................................ 13 EXTENSIVE MINING OPERATIONS....................................................... 15 AT HILL OF BEATH................................................................................... 15 OPENING UP THE DALBEATH COALFIELDS...................................... 15 TRAGIC DEATH OF MR BRUNTON ....................................................... 18 OF THISTLEFORD FARM. ........................................................................ 18 BODY FOUND IN A PIT OF 110 FATHOMS........................................... 18 LIFE IN A MODEL LODGING-HOUSE.................................................... 20 A SATURDAY NIGHT VISIT AND SURVEY. ........................................ 20 FIFE COAL COMPANY ............................................................................. 24 CONTEMPLATED LARGE DEVELOPMENT ......................................... 24 COWDENBEATH........................................................................................ 25 SANITARY CONDITION OF THE BURGH. ............................................ 25 BOWHILL .................................................................................................... 30 THE COLLIERY - ITS EXTENT AND ITS EQUIPMENT ....................... 30 THE PASSING OF THE OLD TOLL.......................................................... 32 THE FIFESHIRE MINER. ........................................................................... 34 THE PITHEAD WORKER. ......................................................................... 37 THE WORK UNDERGROUND - PLEA .................................................... 39 “A Wee Keek Back” 3 FOR THE SHORTER DAY. ........................................................................ 39 BATHS FOR MINERS................................................................................. 43 Proposed Experiment at Aitken Pit............................................................... 43 The Old Conditions of Work and Housing................................................... 43 BATHS FOR THE AITKEN PIT................................................................. 48 JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS AT ................................................................. 49 LASSODIE. .................................................................................................. 49 HANDSOME GIFTS TO MR JOHN........................................................... 49 BROWNLIE AND DAUGHTER................................................................. 49 GREATER COWDENBEATH. ................................................................... 58 IN DAY OF OLD. ........................................................................................ 60 DUNFERMLINE, 1791 - 1812. ................................................................... 60 HOUSING OF MINERS IN FIFESHIRE DR. DEWAR ON SANITARY DEFECT .................................................... 62 HOUSING OF THE MINERS ..................................................................... 67 Fife Coal Company’s Experiment. ............................................................... 67 FAILURE OF THE KELTY BATH SCHEME. .......................................... 68 HOUSING OF THE MINERS. .................................................................... 69 Fife Coal Company’s Experiment ................................................................ 69 IS COWDENBEATH UNDER POLICED?................................................. 70 BATHS AT COLLIERIES. .......................................................................... 72 BATHS FOR MINERS................................................................................. 74 THE PIT BROW LASSIES.......................................................................... 78 CONDITIONS OF THEIR WORK.............................................................. 78 “A Wee Keek Back” 4 Compulsory Washing at Collieries............................................................... 81 SIXTY-FIVE YEARS A MINER. EARLY REMINISCENCES OF WELLWOOD.......................................... 83 AND DUNFERMLINE ................................................................................ 83 AS OTHER SEE US..................................................................................... 87 THE COLLIER AND SPORT...................................................................... 87 LOCHORE MEADOWS.............................................................................. 89 A RECLAMATION SCHEME. ................................................................... 89 IN TIME OF WAR. ...................................................................................... 91 HOW LOCHGELLY IS AFFECTED. ......................................................... 91 IN TIME OF WAR. ...................................................................................... 95 LOCHORE, GLENCRAIG AND CROSSHILL IN TIME OF WAR. ...................................................................................... 98 COWDENBEATH........................................................................................ 98 COMMUNISM RESISTED ....................................................................... 100 Striker’s Novel Project for.......................................................................... 100 Working of Seam. ....................................................................................... 100 COMMUNISM OF A KIND...................................................................... 101 PROPOSED PIT BATH. ............................................................................ 106 SCHEME OUTLINED FOR ...................................................................... 106 KINGLASSIE COLLIERY. ....................................................................... 106 KELTY FIFTY YEARS AGO. .................................................................. 108 CHURCH AS A BLACKSMITH’S SHOP................................................ 113 BLAIRHALL COLLIERY BATHS THE FIRST INSTALLATION IN WEST FIFE. ....................................... 114 “A Wee Keek Back” 5 BLAIRHALL PITHEAD BATHS.............................................................. 115 NEW SCHEME OPENED BY SECRETARY .......................................... 115 FOR SCOTLAND. ..................................................................................... 115 LASSODIE COLLIERY WORKERS........................................................ 120 FINDING EMPLOYMENT ELSEWHERE. ............................................. 120 HOUSING OF LASSODIE PEOPLE. ....................................................... 121 “A Wee Keek Back” 6 LOCHORE AND CAPLEDRAE CANNEL COAL COMPANY. COAL STRUCK IN THE NEW MINE. Brighter prospects may now be held out for the shareholders of the above company, as this week coal has been struck in the new mine, a full description of the running of which was given in the Dunfermline Journal of August 24th. This mine incline which was started from the surface in 1874, is driven at an angle 45 degrees to the enormous depth of 240 fathoms. It was expected that coal would have been found long ere this, but numerous “faults” have intercepted the men in their downward course, and consequently operations have been much retarded as these “faults” were chiefly composed of whin rock. Two mines have been run a short distance in opposite directions from the bottom of the incline, and gas coal has been found in both, of good quality, and almost two and a half feet in thickness. Of course it is not yet known whether the coal may be got hold good or not, but from the fact that it has been struck on both sides of the incline, we would almost presume that the basin of the field has at last been reached. It is at least to be hoped so, not only for the sake of the shareholders, but for men in the district, for if the works were to be stopped in these dull times they would have a difficulty in finding employment elsewhere. Mr Aitken, the managing director of the company, in piloting the incline through such an uncertain strata has evidently shown great “pluck”. Had it not been for his persevering spirit it is just possible operations would have been abandoned ere now. Being mining engineer for the company he has always underwent a good deal of “heckling” at the shareholders meetings when he reported that coal had not been found in the exploring mine. At the next meeting of the shareholders we trust things will be different, and that Mr Aitken will be in a position to present a favourable report. He is ably assisted in conducting the operations by Mr Ferguson, manager