A company formed by Gavin Paul (senior) with colliery interests in the Wilsontown district, and subsequently in the Bathgate area. Succeeded by a limited company Gavin Paul & Sons Ltd.
Pits owned by the company:
A company formed by Gavin Paul (senior) with colliery interests in the Wilsontown district, and subsequently in the Bathgate area. Succeeded by a limited company Gavin Paul & Sons Ltd.
Owner of:
also Climpy No.3, Wilsontown No.3 & No.10 in Lanarkshire,
References
Death of Mr Gavin Paul, Coalmaster.
On Saturday Mr Gavin Paul, sole partner of the firm of Gavin Paul & Sons, coalmasters died Marseilles. The deceased gentleman, it appears, has been in very indifferent health for the past two years. With the view of gaining strength he has been in the habit of spending the winter abroad, and last year he visited the South of France. This year he travelled to Cairo, accompanied by a companion, and was on bis way home when he died, the result, it is supposed, of a chill caught during the voyage. The deceased was the second son of Mr Gavin Paul, the founder of the firm.
In 1883 the father died, and the business was carried on by the two sons James and Gavin. In his younger days Gavin was more particularly connected with the head office in Edinburgh, and was associated mainly with the large coal depot trade carried on by the firm in Edinburgh. After a time James went England, and his brother looked after the affairs of the firm, and his visits to Bathgate and district were more frequent. Under his management the business of the firm has largely increased, and the minerals have been more fully developed. The firm possess two collieries, viz., Mosside and Riddochhill, at each of which there are two pits, while some time ago Boghead pit was reopened by the firm with a view of reaching the Balbardie seam and the channel ironstone coal. An idea of the progress that has attended the efforts the firm during the past ten years may be gamed when it is stated that coal was struck Riddochhill in August, 1891, and at present there are two pits there employing 250 men, and lately an electric pumping plant was put down at great expense, and the colliery is lit by electricity. The coal finds a ready market in the oil works of the district. The success of the firm has no doubt been due to the sterling business qualities of the deceased, whose death, the age of 43, is deeply regretted. The deceased gentleman was not associated with any of the public bodies in Bathgate district, but was High Constable of the City of Edinburgh. He, however, was not unmindful of the district, and showed his benevolence in a tangible form every year by presenting five tons coal to each of the five religious denominations in the burgh to be distributed among the poor of the congregations. Mr Paul survived by wife and four of family (two sons and two daughters).
Linlithgowshire Gazette, 15th March 1901
