Housing Conditions of Miners

Extracted from "The Housing Condition of Miners" Report by the Medical Officer of Health, Dr John T. Wilson, 1910

Rutherglen Parish

There are only two coal mines in this parish, although in former years they were numerous. Owing to the proximity of these mines to Glasgow and Rutherglen, most of the employees reside in these burgh areas.

William Dixon Ltd, 1 Dixon Street, Glasgow

Govan Coal Mine - Situated near Glasgow, in Rutherglen Parish
Persons employed - underground – 540, above ground – 132, Total - 672

Almost all the employees reside in the City of Glasgow and the Burgh of Rutherglen. 125 are in Mine Owners' houses, and the rest in rented houses.

The mine owners' houses are in Glasgow and Rutherglen, except 6 houses at Newhouse in the Lower Ward District. The company own 125 houses occupied by miners in these areas ; 66 are of two apartments, with rentals ranging from £5 4s to £6 10s; 59 of one apartment, rental, £2 12s to £3 18s.

The six houses at Newhouse, within the Lower Ward District, may be described as follows: - 2 one apartment, rental £3 12s; 3 two apartments, rental from £3 18s to £5 4s; 1 three apartments, rental £9 19s 10d - no damp-proof course - Walls somewhat damp - No strapping and lathing - some floors wood and some square tiles, the three apartment house is of wood and is ventilated - internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition

  • No overcrowding
  • Garden for each house - wash house for three apartment house - each floor has a coal cellar
  • One privy midden for five houses - three apartment house has a privy and an ashpit.
  • One stone sink outside - drainage to burn
  • Gravitation water supply from standpipe about 4 yards in front of houses
  • These houses are damp and otherwise defective

Farme Coal Co, Ltd, Rutherglen

Farme Coal Mine - Situated near Rutherglen
Persons employed - underground – 201, above ground – 672, Total - 268

The employees reside mostly in the Burgh of Rutherglen and the City of Glasgow. The mine owners' possess 30 houses in Rutherglen Burgh. 20 houses in the County area situated near the Colliery belong to the superior:

Regarding the houses within the Burgh, the Company state:- “There are 8 one apartments, rental £6 1s 4d; 22 two apartments, rental £9 2s. These houses are three storey tenements, with a separate entrance for each tenant. Slop sink at each door."

“Privy middens were originally provided, but water closets were introduced some time ago, and have not proved a success. We have had several times to expel tenants from the houses, which, though modern, are much abused."

The 20 houses situated at Farme are described as follows:-
1 three apartment house and 4 two apartment houses, with rentals ranging from £10 8s, inclusive of water rates - erected about 90 years ago - Stone built - no damp-proof course - Walls strapped & lathed in some apartments - Wood Floors, ventilated - internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition

  • No overcrowding
  • No gardens but have washhouses and coal cellars
  • Midden privies, but water closets to be provided
  • Slop sink outside with gravitation water supply - drainage, surface channels
  • Scavenged regularly, being within a special scavenging districts


15 houses - 11 one apartment, rental £3 18s; 2 two apartments, rental £10 8s; and 2 three apartments - erected about 90 years ago - Stone built - no damp-proof course - Walls not strapped & lathed except in one case - Wood Floors, ventilated in some -internal surfaces of walls and ceilings in fair condition

  • Overcrowding in one or two instances, but all were members of the family
  • Garden ground in front - common wash houses - no coal cellars.
  • Privy midden (with two seats) about 20 yards from houses
  • No slop sinks - drainage by surface channels
  • Water supply from standpipe
  • Scavenged regularly, being within a special scavenging districts