Fife miners share stories in new book

The flooding of the Longannet complex in Fife brought centuries of mining to an end in 2002. A new book by Ewan Gibbs titled Coal Country looks back at Scotland’s lost coal mines, detailing its demise and tells the stories of the miners that were at the heart of pit life.

Mr Gibbs, a lecturer at Glasgow University, also looks at the industry’s advocation for a devolved Scottish Government.

He argues the experience of closures encouraged a “more cosmopolitan feeling” among miners “where different parts of the coalfields would all work together”.

Arguing for devolution and “for control over important decisions in their community” was part of the miners’ response to their industry’s shrinkage and control from London, he explained.

He said this anticipated many changes we associate with 21st Century politics.

“The coal miners were absolutely essential to the visible working presence in politics.

“That would have been particularly true in Fife where historically there was a strong overlap between coal mining and membership in the communist party”, he said.

The Fife Coalfield was “essential” as one of Scotland’s largest coalfields with over 50 collieries coming in to operation from the mid-1800s.

It saw the creation of new towns such as Glenrothes during the second half of the 20th Century.

Coal Country also features interviews with miners and their families, discussing what the industry meant to them.

Mr Gibbs said: “Most of the men I spoke to were following their fathers and a lot of times their grandfathers into the mining industry they were responding to social expectations and awareness of the economic rewards that mining offered.

“It was seen as a high wage payer by the 1970s. class

“We also discuss the life of communities such as the importance of annual gala days, importance of miners’ welfare in providing social activities, football teams, tennis courts, dancing.

“That also included trade unionism and the experiences of industrial action.”

Another aspect is changing gender relations, he said, which “have not all been entirely negative” with larger-scale industrial employment of women.

“These new factories were seen as clean and safe and comparatively well paid so they provided important economic opportunities which were there for women as well as men.

“That in turn means that deindustrialisation directly impacted women as well so when factories closed or downsized women lost jobs too which I think is important to reflect on”, he said.

Coal Country is available to read for free online or can be purchased in paperback or hardback.

PIT LIFE: The Fife Coalfield had more than 50 collieries and saw new towns created.