MineArchiveHolmes Colliery
| Location | Between Hurlford and Galston, east of Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire — 55.5970, -4.4131 (approximate) |
|---|---|
| Commodity | Coal |
| Type | Coal |
| Worked | by 1854 |
| Maximum depth | Unknown. |
| Operators | John Horne and Sons, Gauchalland Coal Company |
Overview
John Horne and Sons' colliery at Holmes, between Hurlford and Galston, worked from the 1850s and later by the Gauchalland Coal Company, employing over 300 men by 1920.
History
Holmes Colliery lay between Hurlford and Galston, about three and a half miles east-south-east of Kilmarnock, and was worked by John Horne and Sons, later by the Gauchalland Coal Company. Deaths there are recorded from 1854, when a collier was killed by a fall of coal at the face; in 1856 a man was crushed between the cage and the side of the shaft, and in 1865 falls of roof killed four men in four months, two of them roadsmen on the same day in November. Its pits were numbered, Nos. 3 and 4 among them.
In December 1888 two pony drivers at No. 3 took their ponies, for amusement, to a part of the workings where water lay several feet deep. One pony went in and would not come out, and David Gray rode the other in after it, round the corner of a pillar out of his companion's sight; he called out once and then made no reply, and two hours passed before his body was found in three and a half feet of water. The colliery raised household, manufacturing and steam coal, and later manufacturing coal only, from the Major, McNaught, Stone and Tourha' seams. It was a small concern of 40 to 130 men until 1915, but employed 369 in 1920 and 311 in 1923.
Geology
The Major, McNaught, Stone and Tourha' coals of the Ayrshire coalfield.
Workings
Numbered pits including Nos. 3 and 4; pillar workings with water lying in parts.
Closure
It employed 311 men in 1923; when it closed is unknown.
What remains
Unknown.
Related mines
- Gauchalland Colliery — Both worked by the Gauchalland Coal Company.
Nearby mines
- Gauchalland Colliery — 0.7 miles (1.2 km) E
- Goatfoot Colliery — 0.7 miles (1.2 km) E
- Grougar Colliery — 0.8 miles (1.2 km) N
- Portland Colliery — 1.6 miles (2.6 km) W
- Maxwood Colliery — 2.0 miles (3.2 km) E
Straight-line distance, within 9 miles (15 km). Show on the map.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Holmes Colliery, Galston, belonged to John Horne and later the Gauchalland Coal Co. 1
- In December 1888 a pony driver, David Gray, drowned at Holmes No. 3 after riding into flooded workings to recover a pony. 1,2
- In 1883 Holmes No. 4, Galston, belonged to J. Horne and Sons. 3
- Holmes employed 51 men in 1894, 369 in 1920 and 311 in 1923. 1
Sources
- (primary) Holmes Colliery [AYR] — Durham Mining Museum
- (secondary) Scottish Mining Website: fatal accidents 1888 — Scottish Mining Website
- (secondary) Scottish Mining Website: fatal accidents 1883 — Scottish Mining Website
Record created: 21 October 2026 · Last researched: 21 October 2026