Balbardie Colliery Co. Ltd - A Retrospective

BALBARDIE COLLIERY CO. Ltd

A RETROSPECT.

For over hundred years now Bathgate has been connected with the coal industry, and it said that considerable portion of ground which Bathgate stands is honeycombed with old underground workings. Some the older residents remember of coal pits being situated in Mid Street and Engine Street, Bathgate, and at Hardhill. Heatherficld, Hilderston, and Ballencrietf Mains, near Laighlands, the latter of which was wrought by the late Mr John Johnston, banker. Bathgate, father of Mr Johnston of Marchwood. Amongst the first modern pioneers the coal industry in Bathgate were Mr Wark. at the lands Hardhill, and Mr James Hosie. of Falkirk, at Balbardie. The latter gentleman was one the first successful coalmasters in connection with the Balbardie works was Mr Hosie who, fifty years ago, started the mine, and as there was no railway connection with the works at that time, the coals had to be carted to the depots. It was about the sixties that Hosie met with violent death. He, along with Mr Hedderwick. the renowned solicitor and littérateur from Falkirk, was travelling in the same compartment between Edinburgh and Falkirk, and both were killed in the great railway catastrophe which occurred in the Winchburgh tunnel. Mr Hosie's tragic death was deeply regretted the inhabitants of the town. He resided at Balbardie House, and was considered one of the leading men of the town, taking an active part in public work, and parochial affairs in particular.

Mr Stewart of Murdiston, Omoa. ex-Lord Provost Glasgow, succeeded Hosie in the development of the Balbardie Works. Mr Stewart extended the sphere of operations very considerably. and was instrumental in laying down a railway plant which greatly facilitated the further progress of the works. Mr Stewart did not reside in the town or neighbourhood, but appointed a manager to control the business. On the death of Mr Stewart the works were sold, and bought by Mr Henry Walker, of Airdrie, in about the year 1869. Mr Henry Walker was well-known Bailie of Airdrie, and originally carried on a bakery business, although he was connected with the mining industry in Airdrie. but on acquiring the Balbardie works, he took up residence in Bathgate, occupying for many years that house and grounds in Mid Street, called Rosemount, which has now been by Bathgate Co-operative society for the purpose of carrying out a building scheme. Although Mr Walker had been connected with the municipal life of Airdrie. He took no active interest in public affairs in Bathgate, being content to devote his energies promoting his business. Mr Walker was a member of the Free Church in Bathgate, when the Rev. Mr Kesson was minister. He presented the congregation with communion service, a gift which was much appreciated. He had great, particularly for the pastimes of bowling and curling, in which games he showed much ability. He was member the Bathgate Bowling Club for many years he was also connected with the Curling Club, to which he was a generous subscriber when the repairs were carried out on the pond.

Later on the firm became known Henry Walker and Cameron, Mr Robert Cameron being taken into partnership. On Mr Walkers death, in 1891. the colliery devolved to Mr Cameron as the survivor.

In 1895 the Balbardie Colliery Company, Ltd., was floated with a capital £50.000. divided into 2500 preference shares of £10 each, and 2500 ordinary shares of £10 each. The directors on the flotation of the company were Wm. H. Walker, coal master. Springwell Colliery, Airdrie; James S. Dixon, the Bent and Palace Collieries. Hamilton; James Mitchell,. Banker. Airdrie, director of Wilsons and Clyde Coal Company, and James Nimmo and Company. Ltd., Glasgow; Mr John M. Alston, writer. Coatbridge: and Mr Gavin Whiteiaw, coalmaster. Clydesdale Colliery, Wishaw. A glance at the prospectus of the company is interesting. It states that the company was formed carry on business of coalmasters, etc., and to acquire, work, and develop the collieries at Balbardie and Ballencrieff, near Bathgate, the county of Linlithgow, carried on by the firm of Henry Walker and Cameron, coal masters, Colliery (of which the now deceased. Mr Robert Cameron, was the surviving partner), and also the adjoining coalfield on Ballencrieff estate, held under the Earl of Hopetoun, by James Wood. Ltd., together with the colliery and plant, etc., pertaining thereto. The Balbardie Colliery carried successfully for many years by the late Henry Walker, coalmaster, Bathgate, and afterwards by him and the late Mr Cameron, under the firm of Henry Walker and Cameron. On Mr. Walker’s death, in 1891. the colliery devolved on Mr Cameron as the survivor, and on Mr Cameron’s death, on his children. The children were minors or pupils, and their guardians desired to dispose of the colliery. The coalfield attached to the colliery consisted of part of the lands of Balbardie belonging to the trustee Daniel Stewart’s Hospital, and part of the lands of Ballencrieff, belonging to the Earl of Hopetoun, and a small area in the Muir of Bathgate.

A part of the coalfield of Ballencrieff (on Hopetoun Estate), situated to the west of. and adjoining the part held Messrs Henry Walker and Cameron, was held in lease James Wood, Ltd., also from the Earl of Hopetoun. That company had proceeded sink deep pit. to carried to the Balbardie seam (a depth of 164- fathoms or thereby). The sinking had at that time reached 30 fathoms, and the pit had been equipped with machinery, partly permanent and partly temporary, for sinking purposes. This pit would also available for working the fields of Messrs Walker and Cameron. It was thought that very considerable expense would be saved, and greater economy of working secured, if the two coalfields were combined in one tenancy. In view of that Lord Hopetoun agreed to grant a new lease for thirty-one years for both sections of his mineral field of Ballencrieff to one tenant, and the draft of this new lease had been arranged. That new lease would come place of the existing leases, which applied to the two sections of separate leaseholds. The trustees of Daniel Stewart’s Hospital had also agreed to grant a new lease for thirty-one years, from Martinmas, 1894. of their portion the mineral field. A report (included in the prospectus), by Messrs John and G. H. Geddes, mining engineers, Edinburgh, and David Rankine, mining engineer. Glasgow, stated that they valued the interests in the present collieries at £25,190, but the vendors, in order meet views of the directors. had agreed to fix the price at £20,000. The engineers estimated the expense of sinking the deep pit and other works proposed at £15,000, and for minor developments, contingencies, and working capital, £15,000 total of £50,000.

The report of Messrs and Mr Rankine stated that they estimated the Quantities of coal and ironstone in the Balbardie seam (exclusive of Fallside). to 406.000 tons of cannel coal. 334,000 tons of calcined ironstone (blackband). and 700.000 tons common coal. They estimated the quantities of coal in the lower seams above mentioned, if at those thicknesses, about five million tons; and that they took into account only part the lands, while further operations might prove further large quantities. Hitherto the workings had been confined the Balbardie seam, and small part of main seam. Tho output for the three years 31st March, 1894, had averaged 30,000 tons of common coal, 11,000 tons of raw ironstone, and 6,700 tons cannel coal, They estimated the profits £1600 per year from works as they were then, but -when the deep pit and other referred to were completed, the output and returns would, as already said, correspondingly increased. A report by Mr W. Hart, C.A., Glasgow, who audited the books of Mr Walker, and of Walker and Cameron, the profits of the colliery for the ten years ending 31st March 1894. showed that the gross profits during these ten years had been £49,590 18s 2d. or an average of £4959 per annum. Subsequent to March, 1894, the colliery was not fully carried on, being suspended by an explosion of boilers, causing an accumulation of water in the workings, and by a strike, and new and more efficient boilers and pumping machinery were provided, and the workings resumed. Not many years ago sum of £25,000 was raised for extensions, etc., but only £12.000 of that was allocated. It was expected to raise the capital up to £100,000 for the erection of coke ovens. but it was not called up, considering that efforts were directed towards effecting sale the works. The price realised for the works has, we learn, been stated to cover the capital the company, in addition paying 20 per cent, the shareholders.

Linlithgowshire Gazette, 18th May 1906