On 21st December 1877, the Inquiry report into the Blantyre Pit Disaster was published. Within it is over 8,170 lines of inquiry and testimony and evidence from many Blantyre miners about what happened that terrible day on 22nd October 1877 at High Blantyre. It’s a remarkable insight in itself into the friend and work relationships […]
Continuing my quest to tell the personal stories of ALL 215 miners who died in the Blantyre Mining Disaster. As with each previous year, I’ve added more articles slowly but surely forming a growing list of life stories. Today, we remember William Clyde (14). This is the story of brother of James Clyde the youngest […]
I was thrilled to be at the heart of a new community project these last few months in being able to tell the story of the Blantyre Pit Disaster. This was a pinnacle moment for Blantyre Project in marking the tragedy in a permanent way, following the last 3 weeks of commemorating the stories of […]
The last part of the inquiry document, a summary from the official Inquiry Report for “Blantyre Colliery Explosion” of 1877. Transcribed by myself word for word for the first time appearing online, this particular end section summarises the all the inquiry’s findings, presented to the Government at Whitehall. SUMMARY “In summing up the causes conducing […]
Part of the summary from the official Inquiry Report for “Blantyre Colliery Explosion” of 1877. Transcribed by myself word for word for the first time appearing online, this particular detailed section summarises the cross witnessing of the Pit Firemen: FIREMEN’S EXAMINATION “The day firemen of No. 2 pit went down the shaft on the morning […]
Part of the summary from the official Inquiry Report for “Blantyre Colliery Explosion” of 1877. Transcribed by myself word for word for the first time appearing online, this particular detailed section of the findings, summarises the explosion itself. A warning, this entry contains some descriptions of what the rescue parties found. THE EXPLOSION “The explosion […]
A lovely photo of High Blantyre’s Pit Disaster Memorial, taken by local photographer Jackie Byres. Captured recently in warmer weather, the memorial has looked particularly beautiful this late summer, thanks to the flowering begonias in planters arranged by Bonnie Blantyre. The colour has lasted well and certainly brightened up this area. Thanks to everybody this […]