Blantyre Pit Disaster – 142nd Anniversary At 8.45am tomorrow morning (22nd October 2019), it will be exactly 142 years since the 1877 Blantyre Pit Disaster, which sadly killed 215 men and boys. (Updated on Blantyre Project from 207 previously thought to have died). That terrible explosion, still to this day Scotland’s worst mining disaster occurred at […]
Here’s my researched story of another miner who died in the 1877 Pit Disaster. The Gold family members time in Blantyre was short lived and extremely tragic. John GOLD was born in 1849 in Old Cumnock, Ayrshire, the 6th child to John Gold senior and Lillias Swan Clarkston. The large family lived at 22 Craig […]
This has to be one of my favourite images of old Blantyre. Crowds of people make their sorrowful way down what would become Douglas Street on that horrible day in October 1877, the sharp turn still visible today near the bottom of Douglas Street. The three pits are pictured. On the left Priestfield Colliery (Dixons […]
I was sent this message today, which I thought i’d share, demonstrating that even around the world, people are remembering the 140th Anniversary of the Pit Disaster today, “Hi Paul, I’m not on Facebook but sending you this email to thank you very much for your interest and unswerving dedication to Blantyre. I’m so pleased that […]
Courtesy of Robert’s Stewarts spreadsheet, where he has mapped out the list of the Blantyre Pit Disaster dead under 21 years old. Exclusively on Blantyre Project, this gives a new insight into just how many boys and young men died in that terrible disaster on 22nd October 1877. The following is a list of Dead […]
Only I could be happy at getting a print for Christmas, of the Blantyre Pit disaster! I’ve seen this print before in a grainy image online, but now owning a very clear print of it, makes me happier. The simple things. As with all photos and prints on Blantyre Project, I like to ensure they’re […]
Blantyre Heritage Group Secretary, Gordon Cook is hosting a tour and talk of the site of the Blantyre disaster. Gordon has very kindly agreed to do this and and the (above ground!) tour commences on Wednesday, 18th of November from 11.00am. The tour will commence at Priestfield Car Park on High Blantyre Main Street and involve […]