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Bedlay Colliery
Colliery (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Bedlay Colliery
Classification Colliery (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 128929
Site Number NS77SW 22
NGR NS 720 705
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/128929
- Council North Lanarkshire
- Parish Cadder (Strathkelvin-la)
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Strathkelvin
- Former County Lanarkshire
NS77SW 22 720 705
Bedlay Colliery, Annathill: Two shaft pit with modern enclosed headgear on one shaft, older open type on other (upcast); modern washery. A large diameter chimney may have been for mine ventilation. Rail transport still in use at time of visit, but British Rail locomotive (350 h.p. 060D), not one of two National Coal Board locomotives (locomotives 040ST, National Coal Borad loco. 5, (Barclay 1968 and 1929) and 060T no.1 (Neilson, Reid and Co., 5710)). Electric winders on both shafts. Closure expected in 1970.
Visited and photographed by J R Hume, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, 29th December 1967.
Information from NMRS MS.749/157/1.
(Location cited as NS 7205 7056 - centred on Shaft No.1). BEDLAY Colliery
Location: by Glenboig
Previous Owners: William Baird & Company Limited, later Bairds & Scottish Steel Limited
Types of Coal: Coking, Manufacturing and House
Sinking/Production Commenced: 1905
Year Closed: 1981
Year Abandoned: 1982
Average Workforce: 792
Peak Workforce: 870
Peak Year: 1959
Shaft/Mine Details: 3 shafts, No. 1 372m (NS 7205 7056), No. 2 372m (NS 7204 7058), and No. 3 362m deep (NS 7208 7049). Coal lifted in Nos.1 & 2, and men up and down No. 3.
Details in 1948: Output 540 tons per day, 145,800 tons per annum. 683 employees. Campbell Binnie jig washer. No baths. Canteen, first-aid room. Electricity supplied by overhead power lines from Gartsherrie Iron Works, but 90% bought from Clyde Valley Supply. Report dated 19-08-1948.
Other Details: New coal preparation plant installed by Simon Carves in 1957 as part of a £1.25 million reconstruction project completed in 1958, which included the construction of a new shaft and concrete winding tower, and the introduction of battery-locomotive underground haulage. A gassy pit with a methane drainage system, but important producer of coking coal for the iron and steel industry, particularly Ravenscraig. Latterly the coal preparation plant processed output from Auchengeich [NS67SE 28].
M K Oglethorpe 2006.
