SMR 1757 / NS 8434 7454
This pit was visited by an MSC Scheme run by Falkirk Museum around 1977 and the following report was produced for the archives there:
“Small privately-owned coal mine, which was too small to be included in the nationalisation of the coal mining industry. In the past up to 18 men worked in this pit, which began working in 1936. The first shaft sunk on this site is now used only as an air shaft, another shaft having been sunk in or around 1963(?). At the moment only three men are employed in the mine, which produces 7 or 8 tons per week now. The mine is gas-free, enabling the use of carbide lamps. It is apparently the only fully gas-free mine in Scotland. The coal seam, which is 14 inches thick, is worked by the long-wall method, and is undercoat to 4 feet. All the coal from this mine is sold for domestic use. The only coal-cutting machinery here is an ‘AB’ (after Anderson Boys of Motherwell, manufacturers) cutter. This uses a moving link-chain set around a flat blade and equipped with moveable steel teeth or ‘picks’. This is attached to a drive unit. The coal is cut away at the bottom of the seam and the whole level fall out. The mine and depot above ground are not connected to the National Grid, therefore the mine has to supply its own power. One of the mine buildings houses a generator. The mineshafts (only one in physical use) descend at an angle of 35-40 degrees into the ground. The mine is currently worked by three brothers – Whyte – who carry on a more or less completely self contained business operation from mining the coal to carrying out the house-to-house deliveries, which account for the mine’s total sales.
17th May ’78 Closed in August 1978 due to the death of one of partners, and inability of those remaining to continue.”
Charlie Whyte the Pit started in 1936, but died in 1945 and so his wife ran it until 1960. Several of the sons were working in the pit when the Second World War broke out and so were in exempt occupations. They joined the local Home Guard, Royal Observer Corps, and so on. Charlie Whyte jnr retired from mining in 1970.
As well as the pit bings there are still some ramshackle buildings of corrugated iron and brick remaining. The timber gantries have gone and the mine entrance has been filled up.
Falkirk Local History Society 