Housing Conditions of Miners

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

Douglas Parish

It is on record that coal was in great demand and abundant in Douglas about 1835. Table I shows that there are 3 mines at present in operation in this parish, and give employment to 222 workmen. The total number of houses in the parish is 550, while the number occupied by miners is 151, or 27.45 of the total. The population of the parish according to the census returns since 1851 was as follows:-
1851 2611
1861 2490
1871 2624
1881 2641
1891 2266
1901 2397

Crichton & Stevenson, 11 Bothwell Street, Glasgow

Carmcoup Mine - Situated near Douglas
Persons employed Underground 54; Above ground 14; Total 68
The employees reside in the following localities:-
In rented houses, situated at Carmcoup 3; Douglas 35; Glenbuck and Muirkirk (Ayrshire) 30.
There are no houses owned by the company

Grierson & Co., Douglas

Glebe Mine - Situated near Douglas
Persons employed underground 10; Above ground 6; Total 16.
The employees reside in rented houses situated at Douglas
There are no houses owned by the company

Robert Swann, Glespin, Douglas

Glespin Mine - Situated near Douglas
Persons employed underground, 115; Above ground 23; Total 138
The employees reside in the following localities:-
In Mine owners' houses, situated at Glespin, 69
In rented houses, situated at Carmacoup, 13; Douglas, 46; Glespinside 7
In houses owned by miners situated at Douglas, 3

The mine owners' houses are described as follows:- 2 one-apartment houses, Rental £4 15s; 44 two-apartment houses, Rental £5 19s to £6 10s; 1 four-apartment house, Rental £9 2s
The rentals include taxes

38 of these houses were erected about 45 years ago – brick built, coated with cement – circular roof with tar felt covering – no damp-proof course – walls plastered on solid – ceilings plastered and limewashed – cement floors

• No overcrowding – apartments good size
• Gardens cultivated – no wash-houses – coal cellar constructed of wood, for each household
• Four privy middens with 12 seats
• No sinks – surface channels
• Gravitation water supply, one standpipe for all houses
• Scavenged as required at owners' expense

The other 9 houses were erected 30 years ago – brick built, coated with cement – slate roof – no damp-proof course – walls strapped and lathed, mostly distempered – ceilings plastered – wood floors, ventilated – internal surface of walls and ceilings in good condition

• No overcrowding
• Gardens cultivated – one washhouse common to all houses – coal cellar constructed of wood, for each house
• Privy midden with two seats
• no sinks- surface channels
• Scavenged at owners' expense

Houses privately owned – Carmacoup Row, Carmacoup – 13 houses – 9 one-apartment, rental £4; 4 two apartments, rental, £8 10s

• These houses were erected about 90 years ago – stone and lime built – slate roof – no damp-proof course – walls not strapped- ceilings lined with wood – wooden floors, not ventilated – walls very damp – roofs defective.
• Gardens cultivated – no washhouses – no coal cellars
• No sanitary conveniences of any account - no ash pit
• Water supply from pipe running at side of river – gravitation water supply about 100 yards distant.
• General condition of the houses is not good.