25-Blantyre Disaster

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LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY TOWN

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

Memorials - By Local Authority Area

The Blantyre Mining Disaster - (Blantyre, Scotland) - 22 October 1877

Blantyre Miners' Stone
At Blantyre Miners Welfare, Calder Street, Blantyre, South Lanarkshire

National Grid Reference NS 69066 57279

Blantyre Miners' Stone, Front

Blantyre Miners' Stone, Back

Statue at Westerpark Avenue, opposite Helmsdale Close, at the Hamilton Technology Park, Hamilton.
More than 200 killed in the explosion, 22 Oct 1877

National Grid Reference NS 68598 55790

Blantyre Disaster

Catholic Miners Blantyre Disaster Glasgow
Dalbeth Cemetery, London Road, Glasgow (buried north west corner Section 9 in 11 lairs)

High Blantyre Cemetery, Blantyre, South Lanarkshire

National Grid Reference NS 68539 56901

The Monument to the Blantyre Disasters in the Blantyre Cemetery has been modified.
The original obelisck has been retained but trees round it have been removed and two new granite 'tombstones' have been added.

Blantyre was also the scene of two further disasters in 1878 and 1879.
There were a succession of lesser fatalities some, particularly in the earlier years, caused by firedamp

Blantyre Disaster 1877
(Centenary)

National Grid Reference NS 67794 56619

High Blantyre Cemetery Memorial Unveiled Saturday 4th February 2023

Blantyre Telegraph

Mem

A long awaited, unique memorial was unveiled today, Saturday 4th February 2023 at High Blantyre Cemetery commemorating the lives of hundreds of miners who lost their lives in three colliery disasters.

An important event for the former mining community of Blantyre, thankfully the weather stayed dry as 90 local people gathered at 12.30 for the modest unveiling ceremony.

One of the organisers, Paul Veverka presided, introducing colleague and fellow Blantyre man, Jimmy small as joint organiser. The purpose was to unveil two brand new memorial stones at the site where most of the miners are buried, which for the first time names each miner on a permanent outdoor memorial, intended to last generations.

The memorial stones, which are made of granite and engraved will in time weather to match the existing obelisk and remember the disasters of 1877, 1878 and 1879.

With Blantyre Miner’s Welfare Charitable Society acting as treasurer, Paul and Jimmy spearheaded a fundraising campaign with ended up raising over £7,000, with the community themselves playing a large part in that goal. As well as the new stones, there are new chains, new turf and gravel.

The Ceremony

After introductions and some words about how the memorial came about and the work which into organising it, minister Murdo MacDonald of Livingstone Memorial Church and Father Martin of St Joseph’s Church provided prayers and a blessing.

Jimmy Small and Mary Crowe (who is directly related to 2 of the miners who died) unveiled the new stones to applause.

Thank you

Thanks for were then listed to various individuals and organisations, including South Lanarkshire Council, Joe Connor, Renewable Energy Trust, Blantyre Telegraph, David Livingstone Memorial Church, St Joseph’s Church, Blantyre Community Council, the Tact Hall and the many individuals who donated.

Further thanks were given to Thomas McGuigan Memorials, the Blantyre Miner Welfare Charitable Society and Andy Simm, Mick McCann for his hospitality and Blantyre’s Councillors for the steer towards fundraising sources. Thanks also to Murdo, Father Martin and Mary Crowe for their efforts and kindness. Thanks also to everybody who turned up today, the crowd being some three times larger than expected. Finally, a big thank you to Jim Donnelly, for covering the event with these fantastic photos.

The Ceremony concluded with laying of wreaths, photos and a reflection on some of the personal stories of the miners. All the remarkable stories and their names will never be forgotten and these new memorials will help ensure thats achieved.

Blantyre Disaster Memorial RC Miners in Dunbeath Cemetery, London Road, Glasgow

National Grid Reference NS 63170 62897

Dunbeath-1