Argyll Colliery
Colliery (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Argyll Colliery
Classification Colliery (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Machrihanish Coalfield
Canmore ID 103343
Site Number NR62SE 29
NGR NR 6505 2069
NGR Description Centred NR 6505 2069
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/103343
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Campbeltown
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
For associated light railway, see under Campbeltown and Machrihanish Railway.
ARGYLL Colliery (also known as MACHRIHANISH)
Location: Machrihanish, nr Campbeltown
Previous Owners: Glasgow Iron and Steel Company Limited
Types of Coal: Steam
Sinking/Production Commenced: 1946, production in 1950
Year Closed: 1967
Average Workforce:168
Peak Workforce: 245
Peak Year: 1953
Shaft/Mine Details: 2 surface mines. Main mine struck coal at 365m (1 in 4). Upcast mine at 177m, inclination 1 in 2.5.
Details in 1949: Output 60 tons per day, 15,000 tons per annum. 125 employees. Temporary cart screen. No washer. No baths. Small 'packed-lunch' canteen. No medical services. All electricity bought from North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board. Report dated 15-06-1949.
Other Details: Pithead baths were opened on 15 January 1953. Supplied power stations in Northern Ireland, production peaking at 500 tons per day. Coal was taken to the harbour by a narrow-gauge railway. Underground fires caused a two-month stoppage on 18 September 1958, and again in 1960.
M K Oglethorpe 2006.
