Mining in West Fife The Crossgates Area: Fordell and Halbeath Collieries

by Tom Hunter

For the area of West Fife in Scotland an attempt is made to analyse the nature of the coal deposits and to give a detailed history of their exploitation over many centuries. Emphasis is on the two collieries of Fordell and Halbeath with an examination of the different economic management employed in these cases. Of historic importance is the development of waggonways from the pits down to ports on the Forth. Description is given of the conditions endured by workers and of their organisations (e.g. 'brotherings and the darg') and unions which somehow gave mining communities a remarkable feeling of solidarity and self-reliance.

589 pages, Paperback

Published December 7, 2022