Knockshinnoch Disaster

On Thursday 7th September 1950, an inrush of 60,000 tons of peat and moss engulfed the workings of Knockshinnoch Castle Colliery, New Cumnock trapping 129 miners on the backshift.

As word of the disaster spread round the mining communities, hundreds of men, women and children gathered at the pithead. Over the next 36 hours, a huge rescue operation was mounted involving hundreds of miners and Mines Rescue Brigades from all over Scotland.More

Alex Mills

Alex Mills is one of the last great trade union men to represent the miners their families and communities. For over 60 years he has worked tirelessly for the rights of others as an NUM delegate and as secretary of the retired branch of the retired and redundant miners.More

Kames Colliery Disaster

On 19th November 1957 at 7.30pm a coaldust explosion rocked the 6ft section of the West Mine Kames Colliery Muirkirk, killing 17 men. It was one of the last major explosions in the coal mining industry.More

The 1824 Kilmarnock Address

"An address to the colliers of Ayrshire at the formation of the colliers association on 29th October 1824 at the formation of the colliers association".

When this pamphlet was originally published in 1824; Coal miners were emerging from over 200 years of slavery and bondage. In 1799, an act of Scottish parliament freed the miners but the introduction of the Combination Acts in 1799 and 1800 prevented them from combining to form unions. However this did not prevent the miners in Ayrshire from organising unions and they had a well organized and disciplined network of delegates throughout Ayrshire and Lanarkshire in the early parts of the 18th century.More