Westburn Colliery

Overview

A colliery at Westburn, Cambuslang, five miles south-east of Glasgow, worked by the Westburn Colliery Company for gas, household and steam coal and fireclay; it employed 565 in 1894, lost a man to a gas ignition after flooding in 1903, and was abandoned in February 1905.

History

Westburn Colliery lay at Westburn, Cambuslang, about five miles south-east of Glasgow, in the Lanarkshire coalfield. It was owned by the Westburn Colliery Company and in 1894 raised gas, household, manufacturing and steam coal, with fireclay. It had at least two pits. The workforce was 565 in 1894, 490 of them underground; it fell to 372 in 1900 and 188 in 1905.

Eleven deaths are recorded between 1886 and 1903. In January 1888 a bottomer was killed when the rope broke as the cage was descending, and in 1887 a pony driver was crushed by the cage as he crossed the cage seat. On 5 October 1903, in No. 2 Pit, an outburst of water filled some dip workings; as the water was pumped out the ventilation returned and brought out gas, which ignited at the naked light of William Finlayson, a roadsman of 26, although he had been told to use a safety lamp. The colliery was abandoned in February 1905; plans of its Ell, Main and Humph, Splint and Virgin and Upper seams were closed that year, and of the Main in 1907.

Geology

Lanarkshire coal measures, worked in the Ell, Main, Humph, Splint, Virgin and Upper seams, with fireclay.

Workings

At least two pits (No. 2 named in 1903), with cage winding and dip workings.

Closure

Abandoned in February 1905; the Main seam plan was closed in 1907.

What remains

Unknown.

Recorded claims

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

• Westburn Colliery employed 565 people in 1894, 490 of them underground. ¹
• In October 1903 gas released as flooded dip workings at Westburn No. 2 were pumped out ignited at a roadsman's naked light and killed him. ^1,2
• The colliery was owned by the Westburn Colliery Company. ^1,2
• Westburn Colliery was abandoned in February 1905. ¹
• Plans of Westburn's Upper seam were closed in 1905 and of its Main seam in 1907. ^3,4

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (primary) Westburn Colliery — Durham Mining Museum
2. (primary) NMRS deaths and accidents database: William Finlayson, Westburn No. 2, 5 Oct 1903 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plan 21913469: Westburn, Upper seam, abandoned 1905 — British Geological Survey
4. (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plan 21855565: Westburn, Main seam, abandoned 1907 — British Geological Survey

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