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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: Cambusnethan on Friday 14 April 06 10:48 BST (UK)

Title: Blantyre
Post by: Cambusnethan on Friday 14 April 06 10:48 BST (UK)

Does anyone know where I could find out more about the Blantyre disaster in 1877?  I've just found a distant relative died there so I'm looking for more information.  Would there have been a fatal accident inquiry at that time?

Thanks

George

Title: Re: Blantyre
Post by: RJ_Paton on Friday 14 April 06 11:28 BST (UK)

Have a look at http://www.mcpitz.com/blantdis.html

and

http://www.mcpitz.com/   follow the links through disasters and scroll down the page

A descendant of one of the victims has written a book about the disaster 
"A Blast from the Past (Blantyre Pit Disaster)" and what was considered the flawed Public Inquiry which followed this.

Title: Re: Blantyre
Post by: NellW on Friday 14 April 06 11:40 BST (UK)

I don't think there were fatal accident inquiries at that time but you could try

http://www.mining-villages.co.uk/55.html

Scroll to the bottom and you'll get an Inspector of Mines report.


Helen

Title: Re: Blantyre
Post by: RJ_Paton on Friday 14 April 06 11:45 BST (UK)

This incident was only one of several to hit the same mine and company within a few years in one (possibly this same incident) 215 died. As the book mentions a public Inquiry you could try the National Archives Scotland online search facility at
click here (http://www.dswebhosting.info/NAS/dserve.exe?dsqApp=Site20&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Search.tcl)

As there was also a public relief fund the Mitchell Libaray in Glasgow may have additional information from their records.

Quote

http://www.mining-villages.co.uk/55.html

Scroll to the bottom and you'll get an Inspector of Mines report.

The mine inspectors report makes "interesting" reading as it places the blame for the whole incident upon the miners themselves and exonerates the managers ... there is little wonder that survivors considered the Public Inquiry to be "flawed"

Title: Re: Blantyre
Post by: dixons on Friday 14 April 06 14:19 BST (UK)

Even more info on www.blantyrepast.com

dixons

Title: Re: Blantyre
Post by: Cambusnethan on Saturday 15 April 06 11:17 BST (UK)

Thanks for the links - very useful.  I'll be in the Mitchell next week so I'll have a look for more then.

George

Title: Re: Blantyre
Post by: weejeemie on Wednesday 24 May 06 06:26 BST (UK)

Hi George,

I have a copy of the Inquiry and other data, what exactly did you want to know?

Cheers

WeeJ