This next little known story took place at the exact location pictured. Today, the road leading out of Blantyre towards Halfway, right at the exact turn off for Bardykes Chemicals. However, the story is not a modern one, but took place in Summer 1894, some 130 years ago.
On Tuesday 28th August 1894, at this location, then the entrance to Bardykes Colliery, a disturbance took place which ended up a major police presence.
On that day, some of the day miners had been working despite a strike taking place. Tensions rose and early that morning some of the pickets attacked the colliery offices and stones thrown at the policeman on guard. This resulted in him calling for assistance.
The miners preparing for the arrival of the police, headed towards the colliery entrance (pictured) at the main road and observed a detachment of mounted police riding at pace down the road from Blantyre towards them.
On arrival at the colliery, the horsemen stopped and police formed a line on their animals, facing off against the miners. Then on call, each policeman drew their batons whilst still on horseback. On the second call from an officer in charge, the whole detachment, batons extended charged at the alarmed miners. The horses rode through the miners, who scattered quickly, police giving chase. One man was injured and the leader of the miners was arrested.
The campaign by colliery owners against miners who only wanted better conditions continued for many weeks after this, with Blantyre’s Mr Small instrumental in standing up for working rights and pay, directly involved before the strike eventually ended.
I have to admit not knowing about this story until recently, and certainly will think of this now, each time I pass by this location.
