Shieldmains Colliery

Overview

A. G. Moore and Co.'s house-coal workings at Shieldmains near Coylton and Drongan, Ayrshire, employing 167 in 1900 and 243 in 1905. After most of its mines closed in 1928 it carried on through Nos. 6, 7 and 14, worked by stoop and room, until the National Coal Board abandoned it in March 1950.

History

Shieldmains lies between Coylton and Drongan, about seven miles east-south-east of Ayr, in the parish of Ochiltree. A. G. Moore and Co. worked it, and in 1900 the Lists of Mines return 167 people raising household and steam coal; there were 243 in 1905. Plans of its Major seam were abandoned in 1900 and of the Main in 1907. By 1915 it was worked as the No. 7 Pit and the Siding Mine, on the Main and Major, with a No. 2 Siding Mine by 1920, when the Ell was worked as well. On 30 March 1920 a fourteen-year-old, John Peebles of Coyle Bridge, was killed when he fell 22 fathoms down the shaft while wheeling empty hutches on to the cage.

Mines 1 to 5 and 10 to 13 closed in 1928. The national record dates the later workings, Nos. 6, 7 and 14, all surface mines, from 1927, with No. 14 from 1943, though a No. 7 was already at work in 1915; No. 6 employed 73 people in the 1930s. In 1947 the colliery raised 60,000 tons with 153 people. In 1948, under the National Coal Board, it produced 200 tons a day, 50,000 tons a year, by stoop and room working with 127 employees, with one screen and a Baum washer made by the Blantyre Engineering Company, a central canteen for packed meals, first-aid rooms and no baths. The Ell and Main, Major and Ayr Hard workings were abandoned on 31 March 1950.

Geology

Ayrshire Coalfield: the Main, Major, Ell, Splint (Ayr Hard) and Lugar Main (Crawfordston) seams.

Workings

Numbered pits and mines up to No. 14, with the Siding Mine and No. 2 Siding Mine; Nos. 6, 7 and 14 were surface mines; one screen and a Baum washer in 1948.

Closure

Closed and abandoned by the National Coal Board in 1950; the Ell and Main, Major and Ayr Hard plans are dated 31 March 1950.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Blantyreferme Colliery — Both worked by A. G. Moore and Co.
• Newton Colliery, Cambuslang — Both worked by A. G. Moore and Co.
• Smeaton Colliery — Both worked by A. G. Moore and Co.

Recorded claims

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

• In 1900 Shieldmains employed 167 people raising household and steam coal, and 243 in 1905. ¹
• A. G. Moore and Co. owned the colliery until nationalisation. ^1,2
• Mines 1 to 5 and 10 to 13 closed in 1928; Nos. 6 and 7 were worked from 1927 and No. 14 from 1943. ²
• In 1948 Shieldmains produced 200 tons a day, 50,000 tons a year, by stoop and room working, with 127 employees. ²
• On 30 March 1920 John Peebles, aged 14, was killed by falling 22 fathoms down the shaft at Shieldmains. ³
• The colliery closed and was abandoned in 1950. ^2,4
• A plan of the Major seam at Shieldmains was abandoned in 1900. ⁵

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (primary) Shieldmains Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Shieldmains Colliery (NRHE 130780) — Historic Environment Scotland (trove.scot, formerly Canmore)
3. (secondary) Ayrshire Accidents 1915 onwards (newspaper reports) — Scottish Mining Website
4. (primary) BGS mine plan: Shieldmains, Major, abandoned 31 March 1950 — BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plans
5. (primary) BGS mine plan: Shieldmains, Major, abandoned 1900 — BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plans

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