Strikes, Court Cases & Miscellaneous

Tannochside – Miners Warned Out - A batch of about 50 miners and their families have been warned out of Tannochside New Rows, Uddingston, the notice to quit expiring on Thursday. A considerable time ago the Tannochside Collieries and Old Rows were purchased by the Mr Archibald Russell, coalmaster, from the Calderbank Iron and Steel Company, but the New Rows - built close by, but on a separate feu - were not purchased by Mr Russell. His employees continued to occupy them until recently, when it transpired that the houses had been purchased by the United Collieries Company. Notices were then served on a certain number that, not being in the United Collieries Company's employ, and the houses being needed for the United men, they would require to remove. Simultaneous with this Mr Russell set about the election of several blocks of new houses. The notices now served have caused quite a commotion amongst Mr Russell's men, who are unable to get houses in the district.[Bellshill Speaker 18 August 1900]

Patrick O'Hanlon, a colliery brushing contractor, of Thankerton Ave, Holytown, Lanarkshire, appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court on Tuesday, on an explosives charge, for which, it was pointed out, the maximum fine was 6d. He admitted he had in his house 4oz of explosive substance, one cartridge of gelignite, and one of sampsonite, without having a certificate, whereby he was liable for a fine of 2s. for every pound of explosive kept. He also admitted a breach of the peace. It was stated that in a public house O'Hanlon stated he was "a de Valera man", and had as much explosive in the house as would blow up the whole of Scotland. He was going to start at Edinburgh Castle and blow it up, the tackle Glasgow. The police decided to search his house, and the explosives were found. Sheriff Gillies imposed a fine of £1, with the alternative of 10 days imprisonment, in respect of the charge of breach of the peace, and admonished O'Hanlon on the explosive charge. [The Times 23 March 1939]


75 Years’ Work in One Coalpit - Claiming to be the oldest working in Great Britain, Mr. Peter Stark has just completed 75 years' work at Thankerton Colliery, Holytown, Lanarkshire, where he has been employed since was nine years old. Mr. Stark, though now 84 years of age, is quite hale and hearty, and is still at work in the pit. He can recall the time when women were employed in the mines. [Western Gazette 18 May 1923]

77 Years in the Pit. - Mr Peter Stark. Thankerton Colliery, Holytown, Lanarkshire, who has worked for 77 years in the mines, claims that he has the longest working record of any miner in Britain. He is 87 years of age and is still hale and hearty, though he suffers at times from rheumatism. [Nottingham Evening Post 25 May 1926]