The Scots Mining Company, or Scotch Mines Company, [1] was formed shortly after the Jacobite rising of 1715 by Sir John Erskine with the intention of better developing the mineral resources of Scotland. [2] Primary investors were largely garnered from expatriate Scots living in London. [1]
Following its incorporation by royal charter in 1729, [1] the Scots Mining Company procured leases for mines at Leadhills and elsewhere. [2]
The company was near bankrupt when, in 1734, the mathematician James Stirling was appointed manager. [3]
The systems of mining, social organisation and living conditions of the workers that Stirling introduced at Leadhills were revolutionary for their time, [2] including reducing the underground day to six hours, introducing health insurance and hiring a surgeon to directly improve the lot of the men. In addition, he concentrated on better housing, education and the founding of the Leadhill Miners Reading Society in 1741. [3] Many of these characteristic features of the company's paternalism were copied by other large mines. [1]
By 1830, the company was the largest and most successful concern working the lead mines at Leadhills. [4]: 1
Following a protracted court case regarding water rights with the rival Leadhills Mining Company the Scots Mining Company was wound up in 1861. [4]: 13
The area between Leadhills and Wanlockhead was the richest lead mining district in Scotland. [5]
The Leadhills concession was obtained from the Earl of Hopetoun [6] on whose land a significant deposits of lead and silver had been mined since 1513, [7] and a limited gold mining operation had begun in 1517. [8]
At the height of the trade in 1810, more than 1,400 tons of lead were being produced annually, [5] by a workforce of 200 men. [1]
Lead was discovered on the Breadalbane estates in 1741. [9] Mines were operated by three companies prior to the Scots Mining Company acquiring the lease in 1768. The company began working the mines in a more systematic manner, including the establishment of a smelter locally. [10]
The Scots Mining Company pulled out in 1791, [4]: 1 though operations continued intermittently until 1858 when the mines were reacquired by the Marquess of Breadalbane, who worked them until his death in 1862. [10]
The Scots Mining Company, or Scotch Mines Company, [1] was formed shortly after the Jacobite rising of 1715 by Sir John Erskine with the intention of better developing the mineral resources of Scotland. [2] Primary investors were largely garnered from expatriate Scots living in London. [1]
Following its incorporation by royal charter in 1729, [1] the Scots Mining Company procured leases for mines at Leadhills and elsewhere. [2]
The company was near bankrupt when, in 1734, the mathematician James Stirling was appointed manager. [3]
The systems of mining, social organisation and living conditions of the workers that Stirling introduced at Leadhills were revolutionary for their time, [2] including reducing the underground day to six hours, introducing health insurance and hiring a surgeon to directly improve the lot of the men. In addition, he concentrated on better housing, education and the founding of the Leadhill Miners Reading Society in 1741. [3] Many of these characteristic features of the company's paternalism were copied by other large mines. [1]
By 1830, the company was the largest and most successful concern working the lead mines at Leadhills. [4]: 1
Following a protracted court case regarding water rights with the rival Leadhills Mining Company the Scots Mining Company was wound up in 1861. [4]: 13
The area between Leadhills and Wanlockhead was the richest lead mining district in Scotland. [5]
The Leadhills concession was obtained from the Earl of Hopetoun [6] on whose land a significant deposits of lead and silver had been mined since 1513, [7] and a limited gold mining operation had begun in 1517. [8]
At the height of the trade in 1810, more than 1,400 tons of lead were being produced annually, [5] by a workforce of 200 men. [1]
Lead was discovered on the Breadalbane estates in 1741. [9] Mines were operated by three companies prior to the Scots Mining Company acquiring the lease in 1768. The company began working the mines in a more systematic manner, including the establishment of a smelter locally. [10]
The Scots Mining Company pulled out in 1791, [4]: 1 though operations continued intermittently until 1858 when the mines were reacquired by the Marquess of Breadalbane, who worked them until his death in 1862. [10]