Scots Mining Company

The Scots Mining Company, or Scotch Mines Company,[1] was formed shortly after the Jacobite rising of 1715 by Sir John Erskine with the intention of better developing the mineral resources of Scotland.[2] Primary investors were largely garnered from expatriate Scots living in London.[1]

History

Following its incorporation by Royal Charter in 1729,[1] the Scots Mining Company procured leases for mines at Leadhills and elsewhere.[2]

The company was near bankrupt when, in 1734, the mathematician James Stirling was appointed manager.[3]

The systems of mining, social organisation and living conditions of the workers that Stirling introduced at Leadhills were revolutionary for their time,[2] including reducing the underground day to six hours, introducing health insurance and hiring a surgeon to directly improve the lot of the men. In addition, he concentrated on better housing, education and the founding of the Leadhill Miners Reading Society in 1741.[3] Many of these characteristic features of the company's paternalism were copied by other large mines.[1]

By 1830, the company was the largest and most successful concern working the lead mines at Leadhills.[4]:1

Following a protracted court case regarding water rights with the rival Leadhills Mining Company the Scots Mining Company was wound up in 1861.[4]:13

Operations

Leadhills

The area between Leadhills and Wanlockhead was the richest lead mining district in Scotland.[5]

The Leadhills concession was obtained from the Earl of Hopetoun[6] on whose land a significant deposits of lead and silver had been mined since 1513,[7] and a limited gold mining operation had begun in 1517.[8]

At the height of the trade in 1810, more than 1,400 tons of lead were being produced annually,[5] by a workforce of 200 men.[1]

Tyndrum

Lead was discovered on the Breadalbane estates in 1741.[9] Mines were operated by three companies prior to the Scots Mining Company acquiring the lease in 1768. The company began working the mines in a more systematic manner, including the establishment of a smelter locally.[10]

The Scots Mining Company pulled out in 1791,[4]:1 though operations continued intermittently until 1858 when the mines were reacquired by the Marquess of Breadalbane, who worked them till his death in 1862.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Peter L. Payne (Ed.) (2013) Studies in Scottish Business History page 119-134 Routledge. ISBN 1136606599 Retrieved February 2015
  2. 1 2 3 John Nichols (1853) The Gentleman's Magazine, Volume 193, A Trip to the Gold Regions if Scotland p589-597, Publisher R. Newton. Retrieved February 2015
  3. 1 2 Colin Russell (2014) Who Made the Scottish Enlightenment? page 391, Xlibris Corporation, ISBN 1499091044 Retrieved February 2015
  4. 1 2 3 Northern Mine Research Society (1993) Controversy and Contraction. The Water Dispute at the Leadhills Mines, British Mining No.48, NMRS. ISSN 0308-2199
  5. 1 2 A. Fullarton (Pub) (1856) The Topographical, Statistical, and Historical Gazetteer of Scotland (Volume2: I-Z) page 233 Retrieved February 2015
  6. ↑ The Traveller's Guide through Scotland and its Islands (1829 - 5th Ed.) page 133 For J. Thomson Retrieved February 2015
  7. ↑ Thomas Curtis(Ed) (1829) The London encyclopaedia, Volume 12, page 623 Printed for T. Tegg Retrieved February 2015
  8. ↑ David Webster (1819) A topographical Dictionary of Scotland page 434 Retrieved February 2015
  9. ↑ Roger Smith & Bob Aitken (2013) The West Highland Way: The Official Guide page 90 Birlinn. ISBN 0857906453 Retrieved February 2015
  10. 1 2 Cambridge County Geographies, Perthshire page 86 CUP Archive. Retrieved February 2015
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