In November 1892, the good news that coal mining in Blantyre was secure for another 50 years filtered through the newspaper columns. One newspaper reported,
“The brief notice which appeared in our columns a week or two ago regarding the rumoured purchase of Blantyre village by Messrs William Baird & Company, of Bothwell Collieries, and the extensive mining operations about to be begun in the neighbourhood, caused much comment in the district. It is now stated that the well-known firm of Messrs Merry & Cuninghame, who have already a large number of miners employed in their Blantyre collieries, purpose sinking two shafts in a field lying to the north of the Caledonian Railway, and immediately opposite the pretty estate of Calderglen (the residence of Mr J. R. Cochrane, Albyn Mills, Glasgow), and on the west side of that road leading northwards from the Hamilton and Glasgow road to Blantyre farms, being exactly equi-distant between Blantyre and Newton Railway Stations.”
“The ground has been staked off, and a number of men are presently employed laying a branch line from the main line back to the site of the pit-heads, while a large area of ground has also been secured for sidings and shunting purposes.”
“Already the crossings on the main line have been completed. The work in connection with the branch is being rapidly proceeded with, and it is expected that the operations for sinking the shafts will shortly be commenced.”
“The collieries are to be named the Priory Collieries, owing to their proximity to that historical spot which is known as the Blantyre Priory. Immediately to the east of these collieries are to be sunk other two shafts by Messrs W. Baird & Co., towards which branch lines are also to be formed in connection with the main line; also sidings, &c., on a similar plan to those in the colliery adjoining. In reply to an inquiry, it was stated that an immense field of coal underlies this ground, but at a depth of something like 200 fathoms, while it is also stated that a considerable depth of excellent freestone has been discovered in the boring operations. Little difficulty is expected to be experienced in the sinking operations, though some probability exists of pumping being necessary for some time.”
“Referring to the prophesied scarcity of coal in Blantyre district, and the probability of it becoming a “deserted village” in 15 or 20 years, it is emphatically stated that there is as much solid coal between the unwrought portion lying north of the Caledonian Railway and south of the river Clyde as will provide plenty of work for many more than the present miners for more than fifty years to come. The result of the present enterprise will give employment to fully a thousand miners in addition to those already employed by these firms, and this, independent of the rumoured purchase of Blantyre village, means a considerable impetus will be given to building operations in the neighbourhood.”
