Pirnhall Colliery

Overview

The Carron Company's two drift mines at Whins of Milton, south of Stirling, opened in 1933 in the Milton seam on ground mined since the 1860s. Run with the Carron pit at Bannockburn, which washed its dross, it employed 241 at its peak in 1957 and closed in 1963.

History

Pirnhall lies at Whins of Milton in the parish of St Ninians, about three miles south-south-east of Stirling. The Milton seam, also called the Lower Knott, had been worked here in the nineteenth century: plans of Pirnhall and Milton workings were abandoned in 1867, 1869 and 1887.

The Carron Company opened Pirnhall Colliery in 1933 as two surface mines, drifts rather than shafts, close together in the Milton seam. It employed 60 people in 1937 and 110 in 1947, when it raised 37,000 tons of coking, gas, household and steam coal. In 1948 the National Coal Board's Pirnhall produced 170 tons a day, 48,000 tons a year, with 142 employees, and had baths built in 1938, a canteen and a first-aid room. Its dross was washed at Bannockburn Colliery at Cowie, also a Carron pit, and the two shared their electricity, each record naming the other as the source of supply.

The workforce reached 241 in 1957. Pirnhall closed and was abandoned in 1963, when the last plan of its Milton workings was lodged.

Geology

Stirling coalfield: the Milton seam, also called the Lower Knott.

Workings

Two surface mines (drifts), No. 1 at NS 8017 8954 and No. 2 at NS 8021 8953; dross sent to Bannockburn Colliery for washing; baths of 1938.

Closure

Closed and abandoned by the National Coal Board in 1963; the last Milton (Lower Knott) plan is dated 1963.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Bannockburn Colliery — Both Carron Company pits; Pirnhall's dross was washed at Bannockburn and the two shared an electricity supply.
• Blairhall Colliery — Both worked by the Carron Company.
• Cadder Colliery — Both worked by the Carron Company.
• Carronhall Colliery — Both worked by the Carron Company.
• Craigend Colliery, Maddiston — Both worked by the Carron Company.
• Gardrum Colliery — Both worked by the Carron Company.

What's uncertain

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

• All Pirnhall's electricity was supplied from Bannockburn Colliery. (disputed) ²
• Bannockburn Colliery's electricity was supplied from Pirnhall Mine. (disputed) ³

Recorded claims

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

• Pirnhall Colliery, owned by the Carron Company, began production in 1933 from two surface mines. ^1,2
• In 1947 Pirnhall raised 37,000 tons with 110 people. ¹
• In 1948 it produced 170 tons a day, 48,000 tons a year, with 142 employees, its dross washed at Bannockburn Colliery. ²
• All Pirnhall's electricity was supplied from Bannockburn Colliery. (disputed) ²
• Bannockburn Colliery's electricity was supplied from Pirnhall Mine. (disputed) ³
• The workforce averaged 174 and peaked at 241 in 1957. ²
• Pirnhall closed and was abandoned in 1963. ^2,4
• Plans of Milton (Lower Knott) workings at Pirnhall were abandoned in 1867. ⁵

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (primary) Pirnhall Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Pirnhall Colliery (NRHE 132576) — Historic Environment Scotland (trove.scot, formerly Canmore)
3. (secondary) Bannockburn Colliery (NRHE 132555) — Historic Environment Scotland (trove.scot, formerly Canmore)
4. (primary) BGS mine plan: Pirnhall, Milton (Lower Knott), abandoned 1963 — BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plans
5. (primary) BGS mine plan: Pirnhall, Milton or Lower Knott, abandoned 1867 — BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plans

Record created: 4 October 2026 · Last researched: 4 October 2026