iron miners beith ayrshire .....

derekfrom france · Post by **derekfrom france** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:42 am

researching my family tree i am finding an awfi lot who were iron miners
where can i find info about this occupation in ayrshire?

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:15 am

Hi Derek
...and a warm welcome to Talking Scot

We have some links to information about mining in the "Working Lives" Section:
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4133
You migth find some info there. I'm sure there will be someone esle along soon who may be able to give you some more specific info too.

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **Liz Turner** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:09 am

Hi Derek

Welcome to TS. I come from a small village across the valley from Beith, and don't recollect there being iron mining in Beith (doesn't mean it didn't happen tough). The houses of my sister and my mum both look across the loch towards Beith so it's a well-remembered view.

There is quarrying still going on today, up near the golf club, and a regular feature of our life at school was when the sirens went off on a Wednesday I think to warn of blasting about to take place. In Lochwinnoch, however, we did have mining taking place just outside the village and it was for iron pyrites I think. I've lent my book on the history of Lochwinnoch to Russell, so if he's got to that page, I'm sure he'll answer this post too!

The mining in Lochwinnoch was still happening up until about the late 1960s, because one of the boys in my class at school was the son of the mine manager!

You're bound to get more replies on this I think. There is someone else on the TS site (apart from my sister) who comes from Lochwinnoch and she may well be able to give more detailed information - from a better memory than mine. Old age doesn't come alone ....

All the best with your searching.

Liz

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:55 am

Up until recently there was a large iron works in Glengarnock, only a couple of miles from Beith - see http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/AY ... 0947273435 , which originally used locally mined ironstone.

David

PS Iain Kerr sadly departed this mortal coil a couple of years ago.

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:36 pm

I decided to have a rucht guid Google to see if I could find any site/museum relating to ironstone mining in Scotland, but I can't find anything.

I can give you lead ...

http://www.leadminingmuseum.co.uk/

Coal............

http://www.scottishminingmuseum.com/

http://www.mining-villages.co.uk/292.html (mainly N Lanarkshire focussed)

Shale ....

The Almond Valley Heritage Centre, which incorporates the Livingston Mill Farm is the official museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry but it has a lot more than just that. .see http://www.livingstonalive.co.uk/almondvalley.shtml

And a couple of portal sites for mining in general..........

http://www.mining-memorabilia.co.uk/Links.htm#Scotland (portal to 16 other sites)

http://www.projects.ex.ac.uk/mhn/www.html (a worldwide portal side with a few Scottish references)

But only occasional passing references to ironstone .........

http://www.britarch.ac.uk/BA/ba39/ba39regs.html (passing reference to blackband ironstone)

There is a museum devoted to ironstone in Cleveland, - see http://www.ironstonemuseum.co.uk/ , and I'd imagine much of the background info would be relevant.

David

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:01 pm

Hi Derek

I'm responding to Liz's subtle hint but when I looked for references to Ironstone mining in the Lochwinnoch area there was only passing mention.

Thjere was a lot of ironstone mining all around this area. the village of Linwood developed from a local ironstone mine. Ironstone lodes appeared to be quite localised in pockets and when the source was worked out they moved on to another source. It appeared to have some link with local coal sources. Whether this is geologically correct or simply that it was of no use unless the smelting process could be carried out I don't know.

The town of Johnstone built its reputation as a centre of engineering thanks to coal and iron being readily available locally (Linwood is only a mile or so away) Old maps of Ayrshire show small mines dotted all over the place. Inland they must have links with smelting metals since only the coastal mines had an outlet for their coal to heat the saltpans close by.

I know this is not very specific but might help understand some of the other references you have been given.

Russell

Post by **Liz Turner** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:05 pm

Russell wrote:Hi Derek

I'm responding to Liz's subtle hint ... Russell

Russell

Moi?? Subtle?? You must be confusing me with someone else

Liz
XXX