Mining
The monks of Newbattle Abbey were digging coal from the ground in the 13th Century. After the Reformation and the dissolution of the monasteries (1536-1540), mining was taken over by the big landowners. They developed the pits as commercial enterprises.
To make sure that there were enough people to do the work, the Scottish Parliament passed a law in 1606 that tied colliers and salters to their overlords - like serfs or slaves. A collier could be bound for life to work at a particular colliery (as long as there was work for them there) by virtue of beginning to work there as a child and accepting a sum of money known as 'arles' (a sum of money paid when a collier, bearer or other person agrees to work at a colliery), or by working a year and a day at the coalworks.
This law was repealed by Acts of Parliament in 1775 and 1799. Thereafter, coal miners worked on yearly contracts, and if they were not happy with conditions or pay they moved, sometimes yearly.
Legislation in 1840 banned women, girls and boys under ten from working in dangerous and harsh underground conditions. In 1947 the National Coal Board took control of the pits. In order to meet the needs of post-War industry, the Coal Board looked for new coal resources and found these in the Esk Basin. The small villages in Midlothian suddenly grew, with a large influx of people from the west.
In general, miners were regarded as a sub-class and had to work in poor, dangerous conditions, exist on poor pay and live in poor housing. Chronic lung diseases, such as pneumoconiosis (black lung) were once common in miners, leading to reduced life expectancy. Build-ups of a hazardous gas are known as damps, possibly from the German word "Dampf" which means steam or vapor:
The occupation of mining can be found on records of births, deaths, marriages, censuses and electoral registers. However, even when the person lived in a mining town or village it should not be assumed that is the pit in which he worked. If the pit closed, miners may have commuted considerable distances to other pits.
Unfortunately very few detailed employment records exist other than those covering the relatively recent period of coal mining nationalisation. Some coal company records are held by the National Archives of Scotland but tend to be concerned mainly with management, finance and legal matters covering such things as the minutes of company board meetings, company policy, mineral and surface leases, and legal agreements.
In addition to the Archive collection in the Scottish Mining Museum, there could be relevant material in local Archive Centres. Their collections vary considerably but they might include school records, applications for poor relief, electoral registers, local government records etc.
Jobs within the Mine
Banksman, Mine worker at pithead who unloaded coal from the cages
Collier, Coal miner, at the coal face
Drawer, Mine worker who pushed or dragged coal carts
Hewer, Miner underground working the coal face
Overman, Supervisor who checked coal quality
Pitheadman, Over-ground worker
Pit roadman, Mine worker who prepared and repaired underground passageways
A list of mines showing the name of the colliery, where it was situated and the owner’s name.
1869 list of mines in the area of Edinburghshire
Arniston and Vogrie, Dalkeith, John Christie and Co.
Broxburn, Broxburn, Robert Bell.
Brunstane Muir, Dalkeith, Sir George Clark.
Carberry and Elphingstone Tower Tranent Deans and Moore.
Dalkeith, Dalkeith, Duke of Buccleuch.
Edmonstone, Niddry and Woolmet, Dalkeith, J&C Grieve.
Loanhead, Lasswade, Shotts Iron Co.
Newbattle, Dalkeith, Marquis of Lothian.
Oxenford, Dalkeith, John Christie.
Prestonhall, Dalkeith, John Wood.
Polton, Dalkeith, Arch. Hood.
Skelty Muir, Whitehill and Gorton, Borthwick, Arch. Head.
Wallyford, Mussleborough, C&A Christie.
1960 list of collieries in the area of Dalkeith
Arniston, Dalkeith, John Christie.
Brunstane Muir, Dalkeith, Sir George Clark.
Dalkeith, Dalkeith, Duke of Buccleuch.
Edmonstone, Musselburgh, John Wauchope.
Muirhousedykes, Dalkeith, David Smith.
Newbattle, Dalkeith, Marquis of Lothian.
Oxenford, Dalkeith, Joseph Whitefield.
Pinkie Colliery, Musselburgh, Sir Arch. Hope.
Prestonhall, Dalkeith, John Hynd.
Vogrie, Dalkeith, John Christie.
Whitehill, Dalkeith, R. B. W. Ramsay
To make sure that there were enough people to do the work, the Scottish Parliament passed a law in 1606 that tied colliers and salters to their overlords - like serfs or slaves. A collier could be bound for life to work at a particular colliery (as long as there was work for them there) by virtue of beginning to work there as a child and accepting a sum of money known as 'arles' (a sum of money paid when a collier, bearer or other person agrees to work at a colliery), or by working a year and a day at the coalworks.
This law was repealed by Acts of Parliament in 1775 and 1799. Thereafter, coal miners worked on yearly contracts, and if they were not happy with conditions or pay they moved, sometimes yearly.
Legislation in 1840 banned women, girls and boys under ten from working in dangerous and harsh underground conditions. In 1947 the National Coal Board took control of the pits. In order to meet the needs of post-War industry, the Coal Board looked for new coal resources and found these in the Esk Basin. The small villages in Midlothian suddenly grew, with a large influx of people from the west.
In general, miners were regarded as a sub-class and had to work in poor, dangerous conditions, exist on poor pay and live in poor housing. Chronic lung diseases, such as pneumoconiosis (black lung) were once common in miners, leading to reduced life expectancy. Build-ups of a hazardous gas are known as damps, possibly from the German word "Dampf" which means steam or vapor:
- Black damp: a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen in a mine can cause suffocation.
- After damp: similar to black damp, an after damp consists of carbon dioxide and nitrogen and forms after a mine explosion.
- Fire damp: consists of mostly methane, a flammable gas.
- Stink damp: so named for the rotten egg smell of the sulfur, a stink damp can explode.
- White damp: mainly carbon monoxide, suffocates like black damp [also, Carbon monoxide is very toxic, even at low concentrations]
The occupation of mining can be found on records of births, deaths, marriages, censuses and electoral registers. However, even when the person lived in a mining town or village it should not be assumed that is the pit in which he worked. If the pit closed, miners may have commuted considerable distances to other pits.
Unfortunately very few detailed employment records exist other than those covering the relatively recent period of coal mining nationalisation. Some coal company records are held by the National Archives of Scotland but tend to be concerned mainly with management, finance and legal matters covering such things as the minutes of company board meetings, company policy, mineral and surface leases, and legal agreements.
In addition to the Archive collection in the Scottish Mining Museum, there could be relevant material in local Archive Centres. Their collections vary considerably but they might include school records, applications for poor relief, electoral registers, local government records etc.
Jobs within the Mine
Banksman, Mine worker at pithead who unloaded coal from the cages
Collier, Coal miner, at the coal face
Drawer, Mine worker who pushed or dragged coal carts
Hewer, Miner underground working the coal face
Overman, Supervisor who checked coal quality
Pitheadman, Over-ground worker
Pit roadman, Mine worker who prepared and repaired underground passageways
A list of mines showing the name of the colliery, where it was situated and the owner’s name.
1869 list of mines in the area of Edinburghshire
Arniston and Vogrie, Dalkeith, John Christie and Co.
Broxburn, Broxburn, Robert Bell.
Brunstane Muir, Dalkeith, Sir George Clark.
Carberry and Elphingstone Tower Tranent Deans and Moore.
Dalkeith, Dalkeith, Duke of Buccleuch.
Edmonstone, Niddry and Woolmet, Dalkeith, J&C Grieve.
Loanhead, Lasswade, Shotts Iron Co.
Newbattle, Dalkeith, Marquis of Lothian.
Oxenford, Dalkeith, John Christie.
Prestonhall, Dalkeith, John Wood.
Polton, Dalkeith, Arch. Hood.
Skelty Muir, Whitehill and Gorton, Borthwick, Arch. Head.
Wallyford, Mussleborough, C&A Christie.
1960 list of collieries in the area of Dalkeith
Arniston, Dalkeith, John Christie.
Brunstane Muir, Dalkeith, Sir George Clark.
Dalkeith, Dalkeith, Duke of Buccleuch.
Edmonstone, Musselburgh, John Wauchope.
Muirhousedykes, Dalkeith, David Smith.
Newbattle, Dalkeith, Marquis of Lothian.
Oxenford, Dalkeith, Joseph Whitefield.
Pinkie Colliery, Musselburgh, Sir Arch. Hope.
Prestonhall, Dalkeith, John Hynd.
Vogrie, Dalkeith, John Christie.
Whitehill, Dalkeith, R. B. W. Ramsay