Coalmining methods

Bringing Coal to the Surface

Bearers - the use of women and children carrying the loads of coal on their backs from the coalface.
Putting - wooden hutches or carts filled with coal, pulled by women and children attached to the cart with a harness.
Stair or Ladder Pits - a series of ladders used by coalbearers to climb to the surface carrying their loads of coal on their backs.
Horse Gins - A horse driven winding machine used to raise coal in tubs or baskets.
Others methods of raising coal such as inclined planes were used to a very small extent.

Pillar and Stoop - coal is removed in a grid like way leaving large pillars of coal untouched to support the roof of the seam.
Longwall - All coal is extracted along a coalface while the roof is supported by wooden pit-props. As the coal face advanced the props are removed and the roof crushes down gradually.

Act of the Scottish Parliament 1606 'Anent Coalyers and Salters' - the act that led to the system of 'bondage' where colliers became bound for life to work at a coalpit.
Act of Parliament 1775 - Act partially removing the system of bondage.
Act of Parliament 1799 - Act finally freeing all colliers from any state of bondage or the penalties of the 1775 Act
1771 Court Case - Clerk v Ross and others. Very interesting case over the right to use bound colliers belonging to Dryden coalworks at another colliery. Good details on some individual colliers.

Duddingston, Niddry, Edmonston, Woolmet - notes on coal mining of the edge seams in the 1700s at these coalworks
The 'Sea Level' - drainage of the Duddingston, Niddry, Edmonston and Woolmet edge seams, by the sea level built by John Biggar of Woolmet

Cowpitts Colliery Bounty Agreement 1809 (1) - Agreement to serve at Colliery for one year from 3rd July 1809. signed by 48 colliers and coalbearers.
Cowpitts Colliery Bounty Agreement 1809 (2) - Agreement to serve at Colliery for one year from 3rd July 1809. signed by another 14 colliers and coalbearers. Another 19 names of colliers lent money (some also appear in first agreement).
Cowpits Colliery Cheque Coal Bill, week ending 2 August 1806 - full accounts for that week listing about 54 colliers, and payments to other workers and all other expenses.
Craighall and Cowpitts Colliery Bounty Agreement 1806 - Agreement to serve at Sir John Hope's Collieries for one year from 3rd July 1806. signed by 135 colliers.

Craighall Colliery Cheque Coal Bill, week ending 10 March 1804 - full accounts for that week listing 60 colliers, and payments to other workers and all other expenses.
Craighall and Cowpitts Colliery Bounty Agreement 1806 - Agreement to serve at Sir John Hope's Collieries for one year from 3rd July 1806. signed by 135 colliers.

Clerk v Ross 1771 - court case relating to bound colliers of Dryden Coalworks
Dryden - Franks's Report - Evidence collected at Dryden Colliery by the Children's Employment Commission 1842.

Check-bill of Edmonston Colliery 1760 - Account of coal produced for week of 14th January 1760. Includes names of 86 colliers, amount of coal they produced, and pit they were working in.
Edmonstone - Franks Report - Evidence collected at Edmonston by the R H Franks for the Children's Employment Commission 1842.

Gilmerton: Short history of the colliery - Timeline of the early coalworks with names of colliers, coalgrieves and overseers
1823 Strike at Gilmerton - Papers relating to an 'illegal combination' and strike, also a serious assault on George Pride a collier there.
Representation of coal seam at Gilmerton 1786. Shows colliers and bearers at work.

Loanhead - Franks's Report - Evidence collected at Loanhead Colliery by the Children's Employment Commission 1842.

Newcraighall - Franks's Report - Evidence collected at Newcraighall by the Children's Employment Commission 1842.

Sheriffhall Colliery Cheque Coal Bill, week ending 29 August 1812 - full accounts for that week listing 75 colliers, and payments to other workers and all other expenses.
Sheriffhall and Somerside - Franks's Report - Evidence collected at these collieries by the Children's Employment Commission 1842.

Plan of Midlothian Coalfield showing the 'edge seams' and flat seams, also the parishes covered by the coalfield
Sea Level - notes on the Sea Level draining the coalworks of Duddingston, Niddry,Woolmet and Edmonston
Collier's Loft - Newton Parish Church