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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
The valuable seam known as the Ell coal by mines from the surface. These workings must have been on a comparatively small scale.In 1645, because of the loss of one of the mines through flooding, the output did not suffice to serve the needs of Hamilton Palace and coal had to be brought from other districts. From these mines on the Avon braes the coal was transported by a railway to a point half a mile distant from Hamilton. The selling price of coal at this depot was 3s. 9d. per ton. Hawkers with donkey carts delivered the coal to residents of Hamilton in loads of from ten to twelve cwt. at a cost of 4d. per cwt.The early Avonbraes Mines were under the charge of a man named James Wilson, and each succeeding generation of this family has given leaders to the mining industry. The present generation is represented by H.M. Chief Inspector of Mines Mr. A. M. Bryan, a direct descendant of this old-time manager.Since then coal has continued to be worked in the Avonbraes area by Quarter Collieries. One of these pits, sunk in 1815, is still in operation and must be among the oldest working pits in Scotland. At Quarter Pits at different periods the names of two widely different personalities have appeared on the wages book - James Keir Hardie, collier; and Harry Lauder, pony driver.It is claimed that at the edge of the basin in the neighbourhood of Cambuslang coal mining was in operation at a very early date. During the coal stoppage in 1921 opencast work at Kirkburn disclosed the workings of an old mine of unknown and ancient date. Picks made of stone were found in these workings.Pits are known to have been worked on the Borgie Burn. In the workings of one were found wooden shovels and picks with iron tips. At a pit near Cambuslang Cross was installed a Newcombe steam engine, which was among the first in Scotland. The duplicate of this engine was in use at Farme Colliery, Rutherglen, until recent years. It is now in the Kelvinside
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