Coal Mines in Lanarkshire

A Multi-Source Survey of Coal Mines in the Lanarkshire Coalfield

Introduction

My name is Bill Welsh and I have been a volunteer since 2017 in the Library and Archives at the Scottish Mining Museum. I come originally from Larkhall in Lanarkshire and both of my grandfathers were Lanarkshire miners in the last century. I became a volunteer at the museum following a visit to look for more information on my mining ancestry.

I enjoy the work here and much of it has involved research into old coal mines in Scotland, often in response to queries sent to the museum by people who are researching local history or ancestors, or by people in institutions such as universities, who are involved in projects related to the history of mining in Scotland.
During the Covid era the mining museum was closed for some time and I decided to do some research on coal mines in my home area of Larkhall. I have a couple of old books on Larkhall and they mention some coal mines but there was no comprehensive list.

It is often fairly easy to get information coal mines that were operational after nationalisation in 1947 but information about earlier mines, especially smaller ones, can be hard to come by and, where it exists, is scattered across a number of sources – the internet, books, newspapers, etc. Many records also exist in the mining museum library and archives that are not available elsewhere.

In my survey of mines in the Larkhall area I have used all of these sources to produce what I think is the most comprehensive list available. My aim has not been to list every piece of information known about every mine but to provide essential data – name of mine, location, dates of operation, owners, etc – to enable people to carry out further research.

Having completed my list of mines around Larkhall, I have expanded my research southwards in Lanarkshire to take in mines in Carmichael, Douglas and Lesmahagow parishes. I then aim to look at the Hamilton area to the north of Larkhall. These surveys will be published on the mining museum website in due course.

I would be happy to receive comments on these surveys, particularly additional information or corrections. Please send to:
research@nationalminingmuseum.com

Bill Welsh (Curatorial Volunteer)
August 2026