This isn’t abstract history for me. In 1925 and 1926, both of my grandfathers were Scottish immigrants in Pennsylvania’s anthracite region. My dad and several uncles were with them. They came over from Scotland and went straight into the anthracite…
The freedom of Scottish colliers is one of those stories that forces you to rethink what “free” Britain looked like in the 1700s. You picture a country of wage earners and tenant farmers. However, if your ancestor worked in a…
You arrive at the Arigna Mining Experience as a visitor. You have a ticket in your hand and curiosity in your eyes. The miners came as boys and men, with picks, shovels, and lunch tins. You step into an attraction…
Introduction: Ireland’s Hidden Coal Heritage When people think of coal mining, they picture Wales or the Scottish pits of Fife. Yet Ireland, too, once sent men underground into damp seams and narrow tunnels in search of black fuel. Coal seams…
Archibald Hood was a Scottish engineer and industrialist who transformed the coalfields of both Scotland and South Wales. He was born in humble conditions. Through technical skill and discipline, he rose to become one of the most progressive mining figures…
Mystery photograph When I first looked at the sepia photograph, I noticed the neat embossing on the mount: J. Slimming Cowdenbeath. My father, looking about 18, stands stiffly leaning on a young man. He is dressed in his best suit.…
My father’s six years working underground in the Big Mary Mine The Big Mary Mine, officially known as Mary Colliery, stood on the edge of the village of Lochore. It was located in west Fife, Scotland. It was about a…
Introduction: A Life Underground In 1919, my father went down into the mines for the first time. He was fourteen years old. In Lochore, Scotland, this was not unusual. The Mary Colliery was the center of community life. It provided…