Falkirk Archives
Source List 2 - Redding Pit Disaster,
1923
Contents
Redding Pit Disaster
Health and Safety in Coal Mining in
Scotland
Hazards in Coal Mining
Further Reading
List of sources in Falkirk Council Archives
This source list contains a list of some of the archives and photographs held
by Falkirk Archives which can be used for studying the Redding Pit Disaster
and mining in the Falkirk area. Digital versions of some of the documents
can be found on the Collections Browser or on the Falkirk Archives pages in
GLOW.
The Redding Pit Disaster tells us about changes in attitudes to the safety of
mineworkers. To help you get started this source list includes a brief
introduction to the history of industrial relations and health and safety in coal
mining.
What other options are there?
 Visit Falkirk Archives to see the archives and photographs in the list
 Search the on-line Collections Browser for photographs
http://collections.falkirk.gov.uk/
 Visit your local library to read the Falkirk Herald and other local
newspapers.
 Talk to your school librarian about borrowing books on mining disasters
Falkirk Archives
Callendar House
Callendar Park
Falkirk, FK1 1YR
Tel: 01324 503779
Email: [email protected]
Opening hours: 10.00-12.30, 1,30-5.00; Monday to
Friday
Redding Pit Disaster
Pit 23 of Redding Colliery was the site of a flood in September 1923. Sixtysix men were trapped by the flood, and most of these men died. Some of the
survivors were in the mine for up to nine days before they were rescued and
some of these men never fully recovered from the effects.
The flood itself occurred because a sump had been cut in a dyke to collect
water, but the location of this sump was not properly recorded and coal was
stripped from the area, weakening the sump and so flooding the mine. The
disaster was compounded by poor working practices, which meant that noone knew exactly how many men were in the mine at the time of the flood.
The rescue effort was hampered by the lack of reliable plans of the mines and
by the difficult access above ground for the ambulances. Gas, rockfalls and
more flooding were hazards throughout the rescue.
In 1923 Redding Colliery was owned by James Nimmo & Co. The land was
owned by the Duke of Hamilton who also owned the rights to the minerals in
the whole area.
Following the disaster, a public inquiry was held in Glasgow as well as the
statutory fatal accident inquiry which was held at Falkirk Sheriff Court.
The public inquiry recommended that correct records be kept of who was in a
mine at any one time, that better telephone communications should exist
below ground and that new legislation should be put in place regarding mining
in areas approaching water.
The flood was a disaster for the people of Redding and the Braes, where
most of the men had come from. Quite apart from the grief of losing
husbands, fathers, brothers and sons, the families affected also lost their
breadwinners. Many of the survivors were never able to work in the mines
again and it was some months before the mine itself re-opened.
The Redding Disaster Relief Fund was opened by the Provost of Falkirk a few
days after the disaster and subscriptions poured in from Scotland and from
other countries, including Australia and the United States. The Fund was
used to give allowances to the widows and children of the men who died and
allowances to the men who survived because most of them were unable to
work again. In the 1920s Britain did not have a national welfare system.
Also, as there was no National Health Service, any medical needs had to be
paid for, and so the Fund provided expenses for the survivors to go to
convalescent homes.
Health and Safety in Coal Mining in Scotland
Coal mines have always been dangerous places to work. In earlier centuries
it was so dangerous that mine owners found it difficult to get people to work in
the mines. And so, from 1606 until 1799, legislation gave the mine owners
various powers over mineworkers which prevented miners from working
elsewhere.
It became almost impossible for a mineworker to leave the mine. Mine
owners were able to force any beggars or homeless people to work in the
mines. If the mine was sold, the mineworkers were transferred to the new
owner. Mineworkers could also be moved to any other mine their master
owned. Mine owners therefore had no incentive to provide reasonable
working conditions.
This system was abolished by two Acts, in 1775 and 1798, but it left a legacy
of hostility between mineworkers and mine owners. One result was that
miners were among the first to try to set up trade unions at a time when trade
unions were illegal, and trade unionism has been a strong, unifying force in
the mines ever since. Mineworkers, through their trade unions, have been an
important voice in making mines safer.
During the 19th century there were various attempts to improve conditions.
The Coal Mines Act, 1842, stopped the employment of women and children
underground and introduced Inspectors of mines. From then on, the
government took increasing responsibility for regulating the mining industries.
In 1850 the Act for the Inspection of Coal Mines in Great Britain gave
inspectors the responsibility of collecting information about accidents and the
right to prosecute anyone who infringed safety rules. Other acts in the next
few years brought in several important safety regulations.
 It became compulsory to have at least two exits from every mine.
 Managers of mines had to pass an examination in competency.
 Mineworkers were given the right to appoint their own representatives to
inspect mines.
Following this legislation, the trade unions set up systems of safety
inspections.
Industrial relations were poor during the first few decades of the 20th century.
There were many strikes over working conditions. With the outbreak of the
First World War, there was a shortage of coal, partly because so many
miners enlisted in the army. The Sankey Commission, set up by the
government after the war recommended that coal mines should be
nationalised, working hours underground be limited to six hours per day and
wages be increased by 2 shillings a week. However, the mines remained in
private hands and working conditions worsened. By the 1920s, strikes and
lock-outs were frequent and there was also high unemployment.
Hazards in Coal Mining
The main dangers in mines are from dangerous gases, coal dust, subsidence
and flooding.



Black damp is a non-poisonous, non-inflammable gas mixture of nitrogen,
oxygen and carbon dioxide which uses up the oxygen in the air .
Fire-damp is methane, a flammable gas.
White-damp is carbon monoxide, which is colourless and odourless and
which kills by combining with human haemoglobin and preventing the
blood from carrying oxygen.
Further reading
Local newspapers contain the best contemporary accounts of the Redding Pit
Disaster. You will find copies of these on microfilm in the local libraries.
Some are indexed.
The Falkirk Herald
Grangemouth Advertiser
Bo’ness Journal
The main source is the report of the public inquiry
Report on the causes of and circumstances attending the Inrush of Water
which occurred at the Redding Colliery, Falkirk, Stirlingshire on the 25th
September 1923
Sir Thomas H Mottram, C B E (London, HMSO, 1924. Cmd 2136)
Other useful books about mining are:
R Page Arnot A History of the Scottish Miners (1955)
National Coal Board A Short History of the Coal Mining Industry 1958)
Baron F Duckham A History of the Scottish Coal Industry (1970)
You can find out what happened at the Redding Pit Disaster by reading the
book “The Redding Pit Disaster” by Amanda M Jackson. A digital version of
this book is available on the website .
How to use the List of Sources
The list below is intended to help you choose which original items will be
useful for your investigation. You should read it before you visit Falkirk
Archives
A typical entry in a source list looks like this:
Accession No
Date
Brief Description
A101.001/01
1963
News cutting with interview of John Miller,
survivor of the Redding Pit Disaster. Written at
time of Lengede Disaster
The Accession No at the left hand side is used to identify the item. Give this
number to the staff in Falkirk Archives when you want to see a particular
archive or photograph.
The Date is the date the item was written or photographed. It helps you put
the item into the correct historical context.
The Brief Description tells you about the contents of the item. You should
read this carefully to decide if you want to see the original. Reading the
descriptions helps you to narrow down your search for useful items.
Redding Pit Disaster Source List
Archives
Souvenirs and articles about the Redding Pit Disaster
A101.001/01
1963
A101.001/03
nd
A101.001/02
1923
A873.002
A276.01
1923 Sep 25
A347.001/01
1923
A406.01
1958 Oct 03
A1034.005
1923 Dec 29
News cutting with interview of John Miller,
survivor of the Redding Pit Disaster. Written at
time of Lengede Disaster
Handwritten personal reminiscences of life as a
soldier in the First World War and as an
onlooker at the Redding Pit Disaster.
"Souvenir in affectionate remembrance of the
men who lost their lives in the Pit Disaster,
Redding Stirlingshire." Paper tissue souvenir of
the Redding Pit Disaster. Contains list of men
who died in disaster. Border of violets.
Typed copy of letter written by the late Thomas
Thomson, 38 Comely Place, Falkirk, to his wife
and children, while trapped in Redding Pit
Poem "In Memory of No 23 Redding Colliery
Disaster, Lower Redding, Stirlingshire"
Poem "The Redding Coal Pit Disaster" by
John Fleming
Evening Telegraph. Contains article on the
Redding Pit Disaster, on 35th anniversary.
Forward newspaper. Includes article and
comment on organisation of the Redding
Disaster Relief Fund.
Records of the Redding Disaster Relief Fund
A1034.001
1923
A1034.002
1923
A812.009/01
A812.009/02
A812.009/03
A066.034
1923-1966
1923-1966
1943
1923-1924
A066.033
A1034.003
A066.002
1923
1923-1931
1923-1924
A1034.004
1923-1946
A812.009/04
A1034.006
A1034.007
A1034.008
A1034.009
A1034.010
A1034.011
A1034.012
A1034.013
A1034.014
A1034.015
A1034.016
A1034.017
A1034.018
A1034.019
A1034.020
A1034.021
A1034.022
A1034.023
A1034.024
A1034.025
A1034.026
A1034.027
A1034.028
A1034.029
A1034.030
A1034.031
A1034.032
A1034.033
1924-1946
1924-1925
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
Draft deed of trust establishing the Redding
Disaster Relief Fund by the Provost of Falkirk
and the proprietor of the Falkirk Herald. Also
includes example of other trust deeds
Scheme for the administration of the funds
raised for relief of the sufferers by the disaster
which occurred at Redding Colliery (No 23 Pit)
near Falkirk on 25th September 1923
Minutes
Letter book
Index to Letter Book
Special Letters. Contains correspondence
relating to administration and disbursement of
funds
List of subscribers with amounts subscribed
Lists of beneficiaries and dependants
Account book. Contains notes of payments to
dependants, allowances to survivors, train
fares to Saltcoats Convalescent Home and
sundry payments
Financial statements, synopses of allowances
to beneficiaries, investments and information
on surviving beneficiaries
Abstract of Accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
A1034.034
A1034.035
A1034.036
A1034.037
A1034.038
A1034.039
A1034.040
A1034.041
A1034.042
A1034.043
A1034.044
A1034.045
A1034.046
A1034.047
A1034.048
A1034.049
A1034.050
A1034.051
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1966
1953-1966
1957-1966
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Abstract of accounts
Report on investments and annuities
Financial statements and correspondence
General ledger
Photographs
P02803
Circa 1930s
P12447
Circa 1890
P15008
1924
P16326
Circa 1917
P16950
P16951
P16952
1923 Sep 25
1923 Sep 25
1923 Sep 25
P16953
1923 Sep 25
P16954
1923 Sep 25
P16955
1923 Sep 25
P17019
P17020
P17021
1988
1988
1988
Union Canal at Redding Pit Union Canal
passing Redding Pit; scene of pit disaster in
1923
Female Mine Workers at Redding Pit
Surviving miners from Redding Pit Disaster
Formal group of the five men who were trapped
for 10 days
Miller, John (L); Ure, Robert (3 from L);
Donaldson, John (R); Thomson, Andrew (2
from L); Jack, James (4 from L)
Group of miners at Redding Pit
G Sneddon(far R) ,T Sneddon (2nd
R),Morrison (3rd R).
View of Redding Pit
Redding Pit Disaster : crowds waiting
Redding Pit Disaster : crowds waiting View
from above : crowds waiting at entrance to pit
Redding Pit Disaster : crowds waiting Women
and children waiting at pit entrance
Redding Pit Disaster : crowds at pump
Pumping out water into the Union canal.
Crowd of men around pipe and colliery in
background
Redding Pit Disaster : subsidence Area of
subsidence roped off
Redding Pit Disaster Memorial
Redding Pit Disaster Memorial
Redding Pit Disaster Memorial Detail of plaque
with names
Other Records relating to Coal Mining
A208.028
A003.025/01
1879-1887
1888 Apr 07
A003.025/02
(Circa 1888)
A003.026
(Circa 1888)
A003.033
1888 Apr 11
A003.035/02
A003.047
1887
1888 Jun 09
A003.049/09
1958
A005.009
Feb 1944
A005.023/01
1847
A005.023/10
Mar 1939
A005.023/11
Post 1925
A005.023/13
Early 20th
Century
A005.028/03
A005.034
1951 Jun 25
A037.021
May 1829
A037.038
1808
A058.001
A058.012
Nov 1924
1880
A058.160
1929 Nov 11
A059.003
(Early 20th
Century)
A066.044
Invoices, Redding Colliery Co
News report on coal discovery at Coneypark
Estate during survey of proposed line of Kilsyth
and Bonnybridge Railway
Report on transport access to Coneypark
Colliery.
Report on transport access to Banknock Colliery
on the Kilsyth and Bonnybridge Railway
Statement of coke received at Denny station for
twelve months ending Dec 1887
Report on coal traffic at Larbert Station
Letter, D McRae to J Clapperton, concerning
quarrying of whinstone at Northfield Farm,
Denny, and proposed railway to Stirling
News cuttings relating to coal mining disputes,
productivity and union matters
Report on the minerals and mineral working
under and in the vicinity of the proposed site for
the new Roman Catholic Church at Bo'ness
Notice: Rules and regulations for the Grange
Colliery and works connected with it
Notice placing all employees of Bridgeness
Colliery on one day's notice
Notice under Workmen's Compensation Act,
1925
Shot firing notice under Workmen's
Compensation Act,1925
Photocopy of map of Grange showing coal waste
and pits(SRO Ref:RHP 687)
Souvenir programme for official inauguration of
the new linking and development at Kinneil
Colliery. Contains historical note on Kinneil,
photographs of Kinneil House, remains of Wall
and Roebuck's former workshop and
Furnaceyard Pit
Report by J Lauder on the north coal field of
Callendar. (part of report missing)
Advertisement of sale or subset of unexpired
lease of Callendar colliery held from William
Forbes for 19 years from 1804
Plan showing unknown coal mine, Bo'ness
Plan of the town of Bo'ness showing schoolyard
Pit workings and associated dykes and mine
shafts.
Plan of wall tracings at Faulis and Kinneil Coal
Co, at Bo'ness, for Shieldhill proposed road
across Kinneil Bings.
Photocopy of map "Carbrook Mine Lower Fireclay
Seam"
General section showing the seams of coal and
their approximate depths in the Falkirk area
A066.135
1851
A066.136
1851
A066.137
1850 Jun 18
A133.02
A204.001
(1957)
A259.03
(1967)
A310.01
1911 Feb 28
A529.001
A599.01
1956 Jun 21
A650.001
Dec 1847
Report by Alexander Black, Surveyor to the
Committee of Stentmasters for Improving the
Supply of Water. Relates to supply of water from
Falkirk Muir and effect of coal mining
Report to the Stentmasters by a Committee
appinted at a meeting held on 12th October
1849. Accompanies report of Alexander Black,
Surveyor (see A066.134). Relates to water from
Falkirk Muir and effect of coal mining
Report by Alexander Black, Surveyor to the
Committee appointed by the Stentmasters of
Falkirk for the purpose of superintending the
operations in the coal water under the Common
Muirs
Johnston Coal Workings; taken from plan by
United Collieries Ltd.
Photocopy of poem "In these dark hazards" by
Geo. Sneddon. Relates to coal mining
Sketch plan showing extract of mine workings
under the western fields of Kendieshall Farm to
1967
Lecture with lime-light lantern views delivered to
Carronshore Continuation Classes (Mining
Section) on Carronshore School, on "Faults met
with in Coal Mining in Scotland"
Photocopy of pp 82-85 of "The British Coalmining
Industry" Relates to employment of women and
children in mines and includes illustration of
notice for Redding Colliery, 1845
Photocopy of programme for visit to Kinneil
Colliery Alloa area by the Institute of Mining
Engineers, summer meeting, 1956. Includes
history of sinking and development of two shafts
Map of Bo'ness showing Kinneil Mineral Field,
West Division