Roger Mine

Overview

A National Coal Board drift mine in Kirkconnel parish, opened in 1952 and closed in 1980, the last deep mine of the Kirkconnel coalfield.

History

Roger Mine lay in Kirkconnel parish in upper Nithsdale. The coalfield had been worked by deep pits such as Fauldhead, sunk in 1896; after nationalisation the National Coal Board developed two drift mines there, Rigg and Roger. Production at Roger Nos. 1 and 2 began in 1952, and Nos. 3 and 4, a little to the north-east, were opened in 1956 and worked until 1968.

The mine averaged 88 workers, with a peak of 121 as late as 1975. Its spoil went to tips at Fauldhead and at Knockshinnoch, whose plans date from 1979 and 1980. Roger outlived Fauldhead, which closed in 1968, by twelve years, and when it closed in September 1980 it was the last deep mine in the Kirkconnel area, leaving opencast working to carry on. The site is shown on the current Ordnance Survey map as seven roofed buildings with a spoil heap.

Geology

The Sanquhar and Kirkconnel coalfield of upper Nithsdale.

Workings

Drift mines: Roger Nos. 1 and 2 (1952-1980) and Nos. 3 and 4 (1956-1968), with spoil tipped at Fauldhead and Knockshinnoch.

Closure

Nos. 3 and 4 closed in 1968; Nos. 1 and 2 closed and were abandoned in 1980, the last deep mine in the Kirkconnel area.

What remains

The site is shown on the current Ordnance Survey map as seven roofed buildings with a spoil heap.

Seven roofed buildings and a spoil heap, as mapped.

Related mines

• Fauldhead Colliery — Roger's spoil went to tips at Fauldhead, planned as the Fauldhead tips associated with Roger Mine.

Recorded claims

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

• The National Coal Board developed Roger, with Rigg, as a drift mine at Kirkconnel after nationalisation. ^1,2
• Roger Nos. 1 and 2 worked from 1952 until 1980. ^3,2
• Roger Nos. 3 and 4 were worked from 1956 to 1968. ⁴
• The mine averaged 88 workers, with a peak of 121 in 1975. ²
• When it closed in 1980 it was the last deep mine in the Kirkconnel area. ⁵
• Spoil tips at Fauldhead associated with Roger Mine were planned in 1979, and the Knockshinnoch tip in 1980. ^6,7

Sources

1. (secondary) Opencast Coal Mining, Kirkconnel — Future Museum (Dumfries and Galloway museums service)
2. (primary) Roger Mine (NRHE 144648, NS61SE 15) — Historic Environment Scotland (Canmore)
3. (secondary) NCB Collieries - Scotland (Northern Mine Research Society) — Northern Mine Research Society
4. (primary) Roger 3 And 4 Colliery (NRHE 134351, NS71SW 29) — Historic Environment Scotland (Canmore)
5. (secondary) Kirkconnel — Gazetteer for Scotland
6. (primary) BGS plan: ROGER (Fauldhead tips associated with Roger Mine), spoil tip, 1979 — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority
7. (primary) BGS plan: ROGER (Knockshinnoch tip), spoil tip, 1980 — British Geological Survey / Mining Remediation Authority

Record created: 24 October 2026 · Last researched: 24 October 2026