Cornsilloch Colliery

Overview

A coal and fireclay colliery at Cornsilloch, Dalserf, south-east of Larkhall, worked from about 1894 by Archibald Russell, whose lease ended in 1911, and then by the Darngavil Coal Company. Its No. 2 and No. 3 pits were 180 and 196 metres deep. Two men died when their naked lights fired gas in 1901. Its Ell workings were abandoned in 1944.

History

Cornsilloch Colliery lay at Cornsilloch, in Dalserf parish south-east of Larkhall, by the Lesmahagow Railway, and worked coal and fireclay from about 1894. Its No. 2 pit was 92.5 fathoms (180 metres) deep and No. 3 pit 107.5 fathoms (196 metres). Its miners lived in the Cornsilloch Rows beside it.

Archibald Russell, the Lanarkshire coalmaster, worked it first. In 1900 a chain runner riding a rake of hutches was crushed against the roof, and on 9 December 1901 two miners entering their place in No. 3 pit two and a quarter hours after the fireman's inspection fired gas with their naked lights and were killed. When the lease ended in 1911, the colliery and brickworks plant, with coal washing and cleaning plant, was sold by auction.

By 1916 the Darngavil Coal Company had the colliery, with boring machines at the face. A gas explosion in 1917 burned three men; in 1919 a sixteen-year-old assistant bottomer was crushed between the cage and the cage seat in No. 2 pit; and in September 1928 a burning accident injured four men, one of whom died. The Ell, Main and Splint were abandoned in 1927, the Upper coal in 1929, and the Ell in 1944; the colliery is also said to have closed in 1937. The site of No. 2 pit is now woodland south-east of Clydeview Cottages.

Geology

The Ell, Main, Splint, Kiltongue, Upper and Lower Drumgray and Upper coals, with fireclay.

Workings

Pits Nos. 2 and 3, with a brickworks and coal washing and cleaning plant; boring machines at the face by 1916.

Closure

The Ell, Main and Splint were abandoned in 1927 and the Upper coal in 1929; the colliery is given as closing in 1937, while its last Ell workings were abandoned in 1944.

What remains

The site of No. 2 pit is woodland south-east of Clydeview Cottages.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Swinhill Colliery — Both were Darngavil Coal Company collieries in Dalserf parish near Larkhall.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• Cornsilloch Colliery worked coal and fireclay from about 1894 to 1937. (disputed) ¹
• Its Ell workings were abandoned in 1944. (disputed) ⁶

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• Cornsilloch Colliery worked coal and fireclay from about 1894 to 1937. (disputed) ¹
• No. 2 pit was 92.5 fathoms (180 metres) deep and No. 3 pit 107.5 fathoms (196 metres). ¹
• On 9 December 1901 two miners' naked lights fired gas in No. 3 pit, killing both. ²
• In 1911 the colliery and brickworks plant was auctioned on the end of Archibald Russell Ltd's lease. ³
• In September 1928 a burning accident injured four men, one fatally. ^4,5
• Its Ell workings were abandoned in 1944. (disputed) ⁶

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Scottish Cave and Mine Database: Cornsilloch Colliery — Grampian Speleological Group: Scottish Cave and Mine Database
2. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Cornsilloch, No.3 Pit, 1901 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (secondary) Scottish Brick History: Dalserf Coke, Coal and Brickworks, Swinehill, South Lanarkshire — Scotland's Brick and Tile Manufacturing Industry
4. (secondary) Scottish Mining Website: Lanarkshire accidents (Dalserf, Larkhall) — Scottish Mining Website
5. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Cornsilloch, 1928 — Northern Mine Research Society
6. (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plan: Cornsilloch, Ell, abandoned 1944 — British Geological Survey
7. (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plan: Cornsilloch, Ell, Main and Splint, abandoned 1927 — British Geological Survey
8. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Cornsilloch, 1900 — Northern Mine Research Society
9. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Cornsilloch, 1929 — Northern Mine Research Society
10. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Cornsilloch, No.2 Pit, 1919 — Northern Mine Research Society
11. (secondary) RailScot: Cornsilloch Colliery No 3 Pit — RailScot

Record created: 15 October 2026 · Last researched: 15 October 2026