The Kintyre Forum

How old is the village ?
Was it built to house the miners ?

This info is via the Heritage Centre.

Coal Mining In Kintyre
Coal has been mined in Kintyre since the latter part of the 15th century.

The original mine appears to be to the south of Drumlemble on the ridge by Torchoillean and it is thought the coal at this time was only for the Royal Castles and was transferred by horse and cart.

In 1678, the first recorded mining for industrial use is recorded. This coal was used mainly for the production of salt at Machrihanish.

In 1773, James Watt was asked to produce a plan for a route of a canal from Drumlemble to Campbeltown. Work started in 1773 and the canal opened in 1791, and lasted to 1855. Evidence of its existence can still be seen between Hillside and Gorton Farms and there are the remains of the aqueduct which crossed the Chiskan Water near the present road bridge on the Machrihanish Road.

The coal field is a basin stretching from the sea at Machrihanish eastwards to within a mile and a half of Campbeltown, being cut off to the north by the big fault which follows the road to Tayinloan. It is thought the field extends to nine square miles. There are six or more seams some over ten foot (about 3 metres) thick.

There were a number of pits/mines, some worked in the Kilkivan/Drumlemble area, but it was not until 1874 that the deeper mines were developed.

In 1876 the railway was laid down to connect Kilkvan pits with the depot on the west side of Campbeltown. In 1881 these pits were exhausted and the railway extended to Drumlemble half a mile to the west. This pit may have been known as the Wimbledon.

Electricity was introduced to the pit 1905/6, but in 1933 the Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway was wound up.

The Glasgow Iron and Steel Company was granted a licence to bore for coal from 2 September 1943 until 11 November 1944. Following the results of the boring the company started preparatory work to drive two shafts in February 1944.

On 29 May 1946, Lady Lithgow, wife of Sir James declared the new colliery open. Speaking at the lunch following Mr Frank Hodges spoke of impending nationalisation. The mine was nationalised in 1947 and the mine became the Argyll Colliery part of the National Coal Board.

It was reported that a bore at No:2 West Parkfergus went down 162 fathoms (almost 300 metres) and stopped at 220 fathoms (400 metres). By August 1950 production had increased to 280 tons per day.

Tragedy struck on 15th February 1951 when a block of coal fell from the face, killing Donald Woodcock and injuring Robert Hamilton.

On 18th September 1958 a fire caused by spontaneous combustion started in the slope door and despite strenuous efforts the douse the flames it continued until 4 October when it was decided that the only remedy was to flood the mine, which was completed by 25th November.

Due to adverse mining conditions and loss of markets the manpower had been reduced to 200 men by 1960. In 1961 a further 60 men were made redundant. In 1962 a further series of faults caused problems with running sand and increased water. On some occasions water at the working face necessitated pumping 150 gallons per minute. By 1966 the particular problems of the pit allied to the general problems of coal mining in the country made closure inevitable and the colliery ceased production on 26th March 1967.

Looking at Angus Martin's book on Kintyre place names, he writes that the name originally applied to the a land-holding and later transferred to the village which grew up around the mining industry. East and West Drumlemble farms are on the Laggan plain.

The names appears in the following forms in old records:

Drumlamele - 1502
Drumnamyll - 1507
Drummellenill - 1562
Drumlanbill - 1596

Thanks for that, previous research has produced much of that information.
I am in particular looking for dates of when the houses were built.
I will be in the 'town in a few weeks to so will visit the Heritage Centre in the hope of finding more.

Here are some links to old maps which may help you.

http://maps.nls.uk/view/74427536

http://maps.nls.uk/view/75484558

You could try calling Stewart Balfour and Sutherland. As the main firm selling properties in Kintyre, someone there must be able to tell you when the miners' houses were built.

The only photo I know of the houses is in Carol McNeill's 'Old Kintyre'. Unfortunately, it isn't dated.

Thank you very much for the maps, that puts places in perspective.

This is an interesting wee film on the miners of Drumlemble.

http://www.jannimmo.com/TRTD.html

One of the former miners mentioned in the film is a volunteer at the Heritage Centre.

Here are some old photos of Drumlemble which have been posted previously, which may help you to date the houses.

viewtopic.php?f=63&t=13585

In the third of the photos of Drumlemble, there's a row of older-looking white-washed cottages. They must have been demolished at some point, because they aren't there now.

The plaque above the door of the former Presbyterian Mission Hall in Drumlemble says it was built in 1899. It's now a holiday rental. It closed for services in the 1970s, but went on to be the village hall.

The 16 single-storey, stone-built houses of Front Row, opposite the Mission Hall, were built for mining families.

Miners were given priority for 'scheme' housing, eg, Davaar Avenue.

I had seen the church (via street view in giggle earth) did almost consider staying there, but there are only 2 of us) and think it looked like a late 1800 building age.

If I remember correctly there is a row of miners houses still there.

Yes, Roger, there is a row of miners' houses facing the main road. But on one of the old pics there are houses on both sides of the road.

Thank you Shona for the link to Jan Nimmo's film, missed it first time round. The film itself a joy to watch, talented lady.