The thing about Longannott James is it was the last deep mine in Scotland
that's why it was given so much money...If there were any Do Do's around
today I dare say thgey would get a grant (then be killed and stuffed).
Byron was on the downthrow side of a large fault that seperates your
coal from theirs. I have not talked to any of the old men who worked there
but it would be unlikley to get anybody as it shut in 1908. I know portions
were reopened but never to the dip. The plans show one road through the dyke
and it says 'bad coal' 3'6". Maybee it would have improved in time but we
shall never know now unfortunatley.
The little Limestone coal is a funny animal. At your place all three coals
come together whilst at Roachburn only the middle was worked, at Howard &
Blacksyke it was the bottom coal. At our place the bottom coal is only 6"
thick. We work the middle and the top one isn't to my knowledge represented.
Carr Ellison made them persue this coal under Hartleyburn common to secure
therest of the lease it was tin these developments that the victims of
Roachburn were killed. The coal was about 6' but cindered. We would say
anthracite but as to what quallity is unknown. They didn't want it and in
truth Thompson wanted to close Roachburn as it had been a dead loss from the
off, but he did have a commitment to the countryside and knew practicaly
every employee by their christian names.
Your reserves go out towards Featherstone and as I say at some point they
must drop to 2' odd as it was only that high at Plenmellor which again worked
the Featherstone royalty.
Its a shame as we always saw Blenky as a bolt hole if our shot. We could
never get on as we were blacklisted when working for John as Alan would never
take any of his men.
Clive
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