Bowhill ('Lady Josephine') Colliery

The opening ceremony at Bowhill Colliery, on Saturday 28th January, 1895, was carried out by Miss Josephine Haig, daughter of Mr. H. V. Haig of Ramornie, who was Chairman of the newly formed Bowhill Coal Company. Bowhill Colliery was located near the Jamphlars area of Auchterderran, just over two miles to the north-east of Lochgelly. This colliery was also known as the Lady Josephine when it was first opened. There was a great view of it lying beyond the Minto Pit, Brigghills, from the top of the Eliza Brae, Lochgelly. The colliery was eventually to have three shafts but the No. 3 shaft was never as successful commercially as the Nos. 1, 2 Pits.
The NCB had estimated that the work-force of Bowhill Pit would eventually increase to around about 2900, but this did not come about as first predicted.
The life-span of Bowhill Pit was 66 years and, for most of that time, the wages of the miners working here were always a little higher that in the other Fife coalfields.

Depth of shafts

No. 1 Pit was 218 fathoms; No. 2 Pit was 166 fathoms; and No. 3 Pit was sinking 1952-1955 to depths of 360-440 fathoms.
[1 fathom = 6 feet]

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The old hamlet of Auchterderran has become completely surrounded by the town of Bowhill, a town which owes its rise and progress to the Bowhill Colliery. The opening of Bowhill Colliery, and extensions at Dundonald, have brought many additions to the house accommodation at Cardenden, and the Cardenden and the Auchterderran Schools of today are spacious buildings, as compared with the structures in which the dominies of the olden time laboured.
The late Mr Hugo Veitch Haig was the first chairman of the Bowhill Coal Company, Limited. Mr Haig presided at the ceremony of cutting the first sod of the two pits at Bowhill. He said that the pits were being sunk without the expense of trial bores. Mr David Adams and Mr Archibald Bowman, two thoroughly practical men, being of opinions that the directors "should risk the job."
The "risk" was a great one, but at 152 fathoms the Jubilee seam was struck; at 170 the Lochgelly splint; at 207 the five feet; and at 220 the Dunfermline splint.
When the flag was hoisted on the pithead frame, intimating that the sinking was accomplished, the directors of Bowhill Coal Company congratulated themselves in the words of the old adage, "all's well that ends well."
House building in the village kept pace with the development underground, and viewed from Cardenden railway station, Bowhill strikes one as being one of the most up-to-date mining villages in the county.
The colliery was, some six years ago, acquired by the Fife Coal Company, Limited, and the agent in charge, under Mr Charles Carlow, the chairman and managing director of the Fife Coal Company, is Mr Neil Wilkie.
In 1913 the pits gave employment to 1600 persons below ground, and 329 above ground. The ramifications of the workings in the pits cover a great area, and on the working "faces" running from the bottom of one of the dooks the men are toiling at least 450 fathoms under the surface.
In 1825, when Mr John Geddes reported on Lochgelly Colliery, the upper seams were drained by a level to the Orr to a depth of 12 fathoms, and a steam engine pumped water from a point 14 fathoms below the level. This meant a total depth of 26 fathoms.
To win coal from a coalfield in which there was a good deal of water at a depth of 26 fathoms was considered a great achievement in these days. What would Mr Geddes think if today he could find himself sitting in the galleries of a seam which is from 400 to 500 fathoms under the surface?

[Extract Dunfermline Press 6 Nov., 1915: Interesting Historical Notes, Parish of Auchterderran]

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Important seams were passed from the commencement of sinking the Josephine in the beginning of 1895:

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Under the lease of January, 1895, the royalties were (though modified in 1900) 4d. per ton on coal and dross up to £1,000 or 60,000 tons, and 3¾d. over that quantity, applying to all coals and dross up to an average pit-selling price of 6s. 9d. per ton. There was a further royalty of one-twelfth of all surplus coal over 6s. 9d., the maximum royalty not exceeding 7d. The dead rent was £450 up to 1906, and £700 per annum for the remainder of the lease, falling into the royalties.
Various other royalties were reserved.

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Information on coals worked at Bowhill Colliery

(based on a report from 1930)

At Bowhill Nos. 1, 2 Pits, where small areas of Dunfermline Splint Coal were wrought near these pits, the coal was rather soft . It varied in thickness from 1 ft. to 6 ft. and contained one or more stone partings. To the east of the Bowhill Pits, a dolerite sill, in several leaves, intruded the Dunfermline Splint and completely destroyed the seam.
The Five Foot Coal here lay between 3 and 4 fathoms above the Splint Coal but there was no trace of the Two Foot Coal which normally lay between these seams. Described as a good steam coal, the Five Foot seam was worked extensively from around 1900 for many decades. In the Bowhill workings the thickness ranged from 3 ft. at Dogton to 5 ft. at Charleston. An average section had 2 ft. of blaes over 3 ft. 10 in. coal set on a pavement of 5 in. of fireclay.
The Upper Five Foot or Jewel Coal was recorded in borings to the west of the pits but it was absent to the east of the Bowhill pits. Where present, it consisted of a thin coal, 4 in. to 9 in. thick, overlain by a rib of ironstone. It was found 5 to 6 fathoms above the Five Foot Coal seam.
In the Pitkinny and Bowhill ground, the Mynheer Coal lay about 9 fathoms above the Five Foot and was separated from it by layers that were mainly sandy. In the Pitcairn farm bore, just west of the pits, where the Mynheer Coal lay at a depth of 231 fathoms, 1 ft. 9 in. of coal was recorded below a 5 in. ironstone. In workings from the Bowhill pits, 2 ft. of coal was proved north of Knobbs, while at Redhouse, 2 ft. 3 in. of coal below a 9 in. ironstone was recorded.
An invasive, variable dolerite sill was responsible for almost completely destroying the overlying Glassee Coal at Pitkinny and Bowhill. In the South Pitkinny bore, the Glassee was described as an 18 in. burnt coal‘ with a 9 in. rib of whinstone in its roof. In journals from Pitcairn farm and Bowhill Pit bores, no coal was recorded at this horizon, and only an 8 in. rib occurred in the Carden farm (1901) bore. However, about half a mile north of the Bowhill pits, there was evidence that the effects of this sill were less marked and that the Glassee seam could be worked. The average thickness near Woodend was about 2 ft. 8 in., while a maximum of 4 ft. 6 in. was met with at Redhouse.
Boring records show that the Lochgelly Splint and Parrot Coals lay close together at Pitkinny and Pitcairn, but were separated by a considerable thickness of sandstone in the southern portion of the Bowhill coalfield. Both coals were worked to some extent and by the early 1930s, a small area of the Parrot had been taken out on the west side of the Bowhill pits, while the Splint had been mined in a wide almost continuous belt from Muirtonhills to Kinglassie Pit. The Lochgelly Parrot Coal varied in thickness from 1 ft. 3 in. to 3 ft. 3 in. and included a variable band of parrot coal in its upper part. Its average thickness at Pitkinny was about 2 ft. 9 in. and at Bowhill 2 ft. 6 in.
The Lochgelly Splint Coal had its maximum development of about 8 ft. 6 in. in the Pitkinny-Pitcairn region but this thinned out to around 2 ft. eastwards towards the Burntisland anticline. In general, it contained a fair percentage of splint coal of good quality. Its pavement was of fireclay or blaes occasionally resting on sandstone; its roof was almost invariably formed of blaes containing one or more thin seams of foul coal, which probably correlated with the Craw Coal of Lochgelly.
The Swallowdrum Coal seam was not recognised in the Pitkinny area. At Bowhill, it was separated from the Lochgelly Splint by 15 fathoms of strata consisting mainly of sandstone but a small quantity was worked at Woodend. About a mile and a half to the east of the pit, the thick sandstone underlying the Swallowdrum seam almost disappeared and the coal lay about 3 fathoms above the Lochgelly Splint. In this ground it was a poor seam containing 10 in. coal resting on 2 ft. 6 in. of coaly fireclay.
The Jersey Coals did not seem to be well developed over the district as a whole. In the South Pitkinny bore, they were represented by two thin coals with a total thickness of 13 in., lying about 14 fathoms above the Lochgelly Splint. They were wrought at Bowhill, on the north side of the River Ore between Ingleshall and Easter Bowhill, under the name Diamond Coal (the same seam as that worked at Cowdenbeath). In No. 1 Pit, where they lay 2½ fathoms above the Swallowdrum, the Lower Jersey Coal, 2 ft. 2 in. thick, was separated by 3 in. stone from the Upper Jersey Coal, which measured 3 ft.
Not a great deal of information is available about the working of the Kelty Main Coal in this area although in No. 1 Pit, 2 ft. 3 in. of coal was recorded, resting on 9 in. of coaly blaes and overlain by fireclay. Where the seam was cut, 6 fathoms above the Diamond in a cross-cut mine at Woodend, a section had coal (6 in.), ironstone (1 in.) on coal (1 ft. 5 in.). Partings of blaes and stone were a feature of the Kelty Main Coal seam at Bowhill and in the eastern area, but thicker seams, around 6 ft., were identified in the west at the South Pitkinny bore.
The Rough Coal at Bowhill was separated from the Kelty Main by 17 fathoms of sandstone. It was composed of two or more thin leaves with variable partings of stone or blaes, and was workable only in small areas. Its best known development was in the ground south and east of the Bowhill Pits.
By the early 1930s, the Little Splint Coal seam was being wrought in small areas from the Bowhill pits where thicknesses from 2 ft. to 3 ft. were encountered. The roof was of blaes or fireclay and the pavement was a thin fireclay resting on sandstone. As the coal was free from partings, it promised to be of considerable value.
Lochgelly Blackband Ironstone was recorded at No. 1 Pit, Bowhill, measuring 7 in. and sandwiched between an upper shaly parrot (1 ft.) and 1 ft. 1 in. of coal resting on fireclay. This seam lay 5 to 7 fathoms above the Little Splint.
The Cardenden Smithy Coal, in two rather widely separated leaves, was well developed over the area. It was separated from the Lochgelly Blackband Ironstone by around 5 fathoms of sandstone. The upper leaf of the seam was usually thicker and of better quality than the lower leaf, and was worked in small areas near Auchterderran Parish Church and Woodend. A soft parting was a feature of the lower coal.
At Pitkinny and Pitcairn, where the Blairhall Main Coal was thickest, it measured about 2 ft. including a thin median parting of hard fakes. The coal rested on a thin bed of fireclay or blaes underlain by sandstone, and it was succeeded by a thick post of fireclay containing ironstone balls or bands near its top. East of the Bowhill pits, the Blairhall Coal was not recorded in any boring.
The Bowesbank Coal lay 6 to 20 fathoms above the Index Limestone of the Upper Limestone Group and was variable in thickness and in quality. In the Cowdenbeath-Lochore syncline, where it rested on a thin bed of fireclay and was overlain by fakes or faky blaes, the coal generally exceeded 2 ft. and may have reached 3 ft. 9 in. It was variously described in bores as foul coal, parrot coal and splint coal. In Bowhill Pit, the seam was 3 ft. thick but it appeared to thin out quickly to the east.
The Lochore Parrot and Ironstone was separated from the Bowesbank seam by 7 to 9 fathoms of sediments that included a fairly thick post of sandstone and several thin coals. The seam was very thin over the Bowhill basin, only 6 in. of coal being recorded in the pit section.
A new No. 3 shaft was sunk in late 1952 but it never succeeded in helping the Bowhill Colliery reach its planned, increased target of coal production and was worked for a few years only before the whole Colliery closed in 1965.

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
2 February, 1895
NEW COAL COMPANY IN FIFE

The Bowhill Coal Company, with a capital of £100,000 was recently floated in Fife with a view of working the minerals on the estate of Wallsgreen, near Cardenden Railway Station. The estate of Wallsgreen, minerals, and lands have been purchased by the Company, and on Monday the first sod of two pits was cut by Miss Josephine Haig, daughter of Mr H. V. Haig, chairman of the Company, in the presence of a large assemblage of people, including the Directors and shareholders of the Company. ...
[The silver spade for the sod-cutting was supplied by Thomson Brothers, Kirkcaldy.]

DESCRIPTION OF THE COALFIELD

All the coal seams known to the Dunfermline district are lying untouched on the estate, although they have been worked in the immediate neighbourhood for the last fifty years by the Lochgelly and other companies.
There are at least nine workable seams of coal in the district - the smithy coal, the little splint, the fourteen feet, the Duddie Davie, the Lochgelly splint, the glass coal, the Mynheer, the five feet, and the Dunfermline splint.
The Dunfermline splint lies at a depth of 220 fathoms. Meantime, it is the intention of the Company to sink the two shafts to the Lochgelly splint, a depth of 170 fathoms.
The main or pumping shaft is to be 27 ft. by 11 ft., and the second shaft will be 18 ft. by 11 ft. The machinery for the two pits has all been contracted for, and will be of the most approved type. A direct acting pumping engine is to be erected on the large pit. The cylinder will be 100 in. in diameter, and the pumps in the pit will be 30 in.
The quantities of water raised per minute will be at least 1400 gallons. Coupled winding engines, with 30 in. diameter cylinders, are to be erected on both pits. The winding engines are to be capable of raising at least 300,000 tons of coal per annum.
Arrangements have been made for connecting the works with the North British Railway Company's Dunfermline and Thornton branch.

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"The Scotsman"
9 February, 1895

FLOODING OF A FIFE PIT. - Owing to a large and growing accumulation of water in the workings, it has been found necessary to suspend operations at one of the pits at Dundonald Colliery, Fifeshire. The neighbouring colliery of Denend was closed at the time of the miners' strike, and it is believed that the stoppage of pumping operations there has led to the increase of the flow of water at Dundonald. In view of the fact that heavy pumping machinery is to be fitted up at the "Josephine" Pit, in course of being sunk by the Bowhill Company, it is expected that the stoppage at the Dundonald Pit will only be temporary, but a considerable time must elapse before the water finds its way into the Bowhill workings.

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"Supplement: Dunfermline Saturday Press"
6 June, 1896

In one of the shafts at Bowhill Colliery, Lochgelly, a sinker, named John Greig, was seriously injured on Saturday. Greig had been engaged on a plank of wood, about 5 fathoms up the shaft, when one of the ascending kettles struck the plank, and the poor fellow was precipitated to the bottom. Greig sustained a fracture of the right leg, a fracture of the lower jawbone, and other injuries.

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
13 June, 1896
ANOTHER FATAL PIT-SINKING ACCIDENT

A pit-sinking fatality occurred at Bowhill Colliery on Monday morning. Henry Swan, nineteen years of age, son of George Swan, pit-sinker, Auchterderran, was starting a pumping engine when he got entangled among the machinery and was struck by the flywheel, sustaining such injuries that he died almost immediately.

[The issue of 27 June, 1896, carried a Report of the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of Henry Swan. Among those giving evidence were:- David Thomson, manager, Bowhill; and, Richard Yardley, engineman, Josephine Pit.
The issue of 24 October carried the sad news that George Swan, the pursuer and father of the victim - Henry Swan, had died, and that the case was delayed for a fortnight to see whether his widow, as his executrix under his will, should sist herself as pursuer in the case.]

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
5 December, 1896
ACTION OF DAMAGES

In the Court of Session on Tuesday, the Judges of the Second Division ordered issues for jury trial of an action raised by Margaret Anderson or Swan, wife of the now deceased George Swan, pit-sinker, Jamphlars, Auchterderran, Fife, against the Bowhill Coal Company, Limited, Cardenden, Fife. Pursuers seek £500 damages in respect of the death of her son, Henry Swan. ...

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"Cowdenbeath & Lochgelly Times"
Wednesday, 9 June, 1897
NEW MINING VENTURES IN FIFE

... At Cardenden the Bowhill Coal Company is vigorously proceeding with the sinking of one of the largest pits in the country. The fittings are of the most modern description. Several seams of coal have been reached, which, it is believed, will secure the success of the new venture. Some of the most valued seams are yet to be reached, but they are at a great depth. For some years the mining industry of Cardenden has been at a low ebb, but when once the new undertaking is developed employment will be given to a greater number of miners and others than was ever done before. ...

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"Cowdenbeath & Lochgelly Times"
Wednesday, 14 July, 1897

The Bowhill Coal Company has struck by a bore the Lochgelly Splint. It is 6 ft. 3 in. thick. The second lift is now being placed, and is being put in with great speed.

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"Dunfermline Press"
18 June, 1898

This issue carried the news that Mr Robert A. Muir, formerly of Kelty Colliery, was now general manager to the Bowhill Coal Company.

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"Dunfermline Press"
3 September, 1898

John Swan, miner, Denend, was engaged setting a prop in the splint seam of the Josephine Pit, No. 2 Bowhill Colliery, on Monday, when a piece of stone and coal fell upon his right leg, fracturing it at two places below the knee.

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"Dunfermline Press"
8 October, 1898
COAL MINING AT AUCHTERDERRAN GLEBE

At Kirkcaldy Established Presbytery on Wednesday, Mr Macindoe, solicitor, on behalf of the minister of Auchterderran parish, produced a draught lease between the Rev. Mr Houston and others and the Bowhill Coal Company (Limited), for the working of the coal at the western part of the Auchterderran glebe. He stated that the part where the coal was to be leased was at such a distance from the church and manse buildings that there was no possibility of any damage being done to them by the workings. The lease was for thirty-one years from Martinmas 1898, and there was a fixed rent of £12, 10s., while the ruling lordship was 4d. per ton from common coal. The other lordships were the same as agreed to by the same proprietors in the same mineral field. The extent to be leased was seven acres out of twenty-one acres. The Presbytery, after discussion, agreed to the lease, and the moderator and clerk were authorised to sign the same.

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"Dunfermline Press"
3 December, 1898

Mr Wm. Simpson, for the last nine years Chief Engineer at the Hill of Beath Works of the Fife Coal Company, Limited, has been appointed to a similar situation in the service of the Bowhill Coal Company, Fife, Limited, Cardenden.

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"Dunfermline Press"
28 January, 1899

Mr William Simpson, chief engineer at the Hill of Beath Works of the Fife Coal Company for the last eight years, has been presented with a pair of gold-mounted eye-glasses, a silver-mounted walking-stick, and a gold brooch for Mrs Simpson, on the occasion of his leaving to fill the position of chief engineer at Bowhill Collieries, Cardenden.

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"Dunfermline Press"
1 April, 1899
MINING CLASS

Some of the students attending the mining class, accompanied by Mr George Henderson, their teacher, on Saturday visited the works of the Bowhill Coal Coy., Ltd., Cardenden.
Mr R. A. Muir, the Company's manager, showed the company round the magnificent appointments of the colliery. It would be difficult to find a more courteous and genial guide and instructor than Mr Muir. He showed the visitors the different points and working of the whole gigantic fit-up - the steam generating by Lane-type boilers, the powerful pumping engine, the sweet-working winding engines, the ventilating apparatus, the coal sorting and loading, which were all graphically explained. The company then went down the pit, and into the workings of one of the coal seams. On coming to daylight again, Mr Henderson, in a few words, thanked Mr Muir, in name of the company, for his kindness, courtesy, and instructive remarks while showing them round, and jocularly remarked that if he had not succeeded as a colliery manager he would have made a splendid teacher.
He called for a hearty vote of thanks, which was widely accorded by the company again singing - "For he's a jolly good fellow." Mr Muir, in reply, pointed out the great importance of mining, and the fact of Britain's coal and iron being her "backbone". He encouraged the students to be earnest, diligent, and hard working. If they meant to get on they must burn "midnight oil", as all who wished success must do. Hard work and perseverance must be brought into play if success was to be attained. A very good rendering he gave of the old couplet - "If at first you don't succeed - fail again!" Train time called the company off, after a most instructive and enjoyable day.

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"Dunfermline Press"
21 October, 1899

James Smith, miner, Church Street, Lochgelly, was fatally injured on Monday in the underground workings of the Josephine Pit, Bowhill Colliery. He was filling redd at the coal face, when a quantity of coal and redd suddenly fell from the face upon him. He was knocked up against the hutch, and in addition to being bruised about the chest and lower part of the body, he sustained a shock to the nervous system. He succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday morning. Deceased was twenty-five years of age. He was married.

"Dunfermline Press"
23 December, 1899

David Black, miner, Westfield, Auchterderran, was killed while at work on Thursday, at the bottom of No. 1 shaft, Josephine Pit, Bowhill Colliery. Deceased was holing coal, when a fall from the roof took place, killing him on the spot. He was about 37 years of age, was married, and leaves a widow and family.

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"Lochgelly Times"
27 December, 1899

David Black, Westfield Row (37), was killed at Bowhill Pit. Dr Rorie was called. Deceased was a well-known dog and poultry fancier.

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"Dunfermline Press"
6 January, 1900

This issue carried the Report of the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of David Black on 21 December. Those giving evidence included:- Robert A. Muir, colliery manager; David Addie, pit sinker, Cardenden; David Swan, pit sinker, Lochgelly; and William Paterson, miner, Westfield Rows. The Jury returned a formal verdict.

"Dunfermline Press"
21 April, 1900

PIT FLOODED AT BOWHILL
ONE MAN DROWNED : THREE INJURED

An accident of a very alarming nature occurred at Bowhill Colliery on Monday - one man losing his life and three others being injured. Four men, named Con O'Donnell, pit sinker, Lochgelly; Alexander Herd, miner, Charleston, parish of Auchterderran; George Bonnar, pumping engineman, South Walkerton, parish of Kinglassie; and James McColl, pit sinker, were employed in a dook in the Lochgelly splint seam in the Josephine Pit. Two dooks had been run parallel with each other in the same seam, and the four men were engaged in the work of making a connection between the roads. One of the roads had been standing for some time, and, being run to the dip, some water had collected in it.
The partition seems to have been thinner on Monday than the men expected, and while they were at work the water burst through upon them. The volume of water was considerable, but fortunately it took some little time to rise. O'Donnell and Herd were at the extreme end of No. 1 Dook, and although a warning cry was given, they did not seem to hear it, with the result that the two men were soon hemmed in by the running water. McColl, after being immersed for three quarters of an hour, managed to force his way through, but the other, O'Donnell, was drowned. The two other men were severely injured through being struck by material thrown about by the burst - Herd being badly hurt about the head, and George Bonnar, who was working the dook pumping engine, having sustained two severe scalp wounds and also a shock to the system.
When the burst took place the lights of the men were extinguished, and in the darkness the men were unable to assist one another. The deceased sinker, O'Donnell, resided in Brewery Court, Lochgelly, was 35 years of age, and unmarried. His body was not recovered till five o'clock in the afternoon, having been in the water for nearly ten hours. Dr Rorie, who was called when the accident happened, descended the shaft, and, after attending to the other men's injuries, remained in the pit for a time in the hope of O'Donnell being extricated and resuscitation attempted. Mr Muir, manager, was in the pit at the time, and did everything possible under the circumstances.

A GRAPHIC NARRATIVE.

James McColl, interviewed regarding the occurrence, made the following statement:-
About 7 A.M. I was working on dook No. 1 along with Con O'Donnell. We heard a cry, but we thought it was just a hutch run away in the dook. We both stood close up to the side, thinking to let it pass, but instead of the hutch we saw water coming. We made to get out, but the onrush of water was too strong for us to make headway against it. I caught hold of an air pipe, but it broke. When the water had stopped running, I made another attempt to get through it. Con had hold of my arm, but something struck him and forced him to let go his hold, and he disappeared. I called his name several times, but failed to get an answer. I felt through the water for him with my feet, but could not find him. When I could not find him I tried again to get through, but failed. The water was right up to the roof, and I could get no air. I tried five times altogether. Ultimately I made a desperate rush through twenty or thirty feet of water. When I got that length I met Mr Muir, the manager, who assisted me out of danger. He asked me where Con was, and I replied that I thought he was drowned.

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"Dunfermline Press"
5 May, 1900

This issue carried the Report of the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of Cornelius O'Donnell, pit sinker, at Bowhill Colliery. Those giving evidence at the inquiry, held in Dunfermline, included:- Robert Anstruther Muir, colliery manager; George Beveridge, under-ground manager; James Hudson McCall, pit sinker; Alexander Herd; Alexander Beveridge; George Bonnar; and, David Briggs.

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"Dunfermline Press"
1 September, 1900

James Gibson, miner, Leslie, while working in the Josephine Pit, Bowhill Colliery, on Friday last, had his right leg broken through a stone falling upon it from the side of the roadway. He was attended to by Dr Rorie, Auchterderran.

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MISCELLANEOUS
"Auchterderran of Yesteryear"

A volume of "Auchterderran of Yesteryear" shows Bowhill Pit as belonging to Bowhill Coal Company and the only miners rows are 1st to 7th Streets behind West Cottages, Bowhill. 8th to 19th Streets were built later on the east side of Cemetery Brae and Station Road, Bowhill. These numbered streets were actually the notion of an early manager at Bowhill Colliery who had worked in the U.S.A.
The uncle of Ian Cameron (Dalgety Bay) - John Cameron, his father's oldest brother, came to Fife from Arbroath around this time and, as a joiner, he worked at the building of the miners rows at Bowhill. Apparently, they were built at a cost of roughly £100 per house!
This same source also identifies the colliery near Cardenden Railway Station called Denend, close to the site of the present-day Denend School. The land belonged to R. C. Munro Ferguson of Raith (later Lord Novar) who owned the mineral rights in the Cluny area also. The Ferguson family constructed several "coal roads" to their pits in the Cluny area.

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"Dunfermline Press"
19 January, 1901

Two accidents involving the death of three workmen have occurred at the Josephine Pit, Bowhill Colliery, wrought by the Bowhill Coal Company, Limited. On Saturday last John Chalmers, aged 33 years, an engineman, residing at Balgonie Buildings, Bowhill, was engaged in putting a belt on a wheel at the "shakers". His head came in contact with a girder, and losing his balance he fell from the scaffold, a distance of 16 feet, and alighted on a rail. Although, as it turned out, he was fatally injured, he showed wonderful grit and endurance, and refusing all assistance he managed to walk home. Dr Rorie was immediately summoned. On examination, it was found that Chalmers' right arm was dislocated at the elbow, and that he also received severe internal injuries. The injured man succumbed to his injuries at half-past seven o'clock the same evening. Deceased was a quiet, steady man, and much liked and respected by his fellow workmen. He belonged to Lochgelly, where his people reside, and where he was very well known. He leaves a widow and three young children.

The second accident occurred on Wednesday, and it resulted, we regret to say, in the loss of two lives. At about four o'clock in the afternoon, a terrific crack was heard by the men working in the Josephine Pit, and it was soon ascertained that a large part of the roof had fallen. The fall took place where a wheel brae worker, named James Black, who resided at Kinglassie, was known to be working. Operations were at once commenced for removing the mass of stone - said to weigh from ten to twelve tons - and Black's body was found firmly wedged in with pieces of wood. It was nor without a good deal of difficulty that the body was brought out. Anxiety soon began to be felt about a pit inspector named Robert Hamilton, Bowhill Cottages. The men had only a suspicion that he might be under the debris, but this suspicion was enough to make them redouble their efforts in removing the fallen material, and shortly after six o'clock Hamilton's body was discovered. Hamilton, when struck by the fall, had evidently been in a sitting posture. The bodies were afterwards examined by Dr Rorie and Dr Black. In both cases death had apparently been instantaneous.
Following so shortly on Saturday's fatality to the engineman Chalmers, a painful sensation was caused in the district when the news became known, and the men below stopped working, and were drawn to the pithead.
Hamilton was thirty-seven years of age, and Black forty years. Both men were married, and each leaves a widow and young family.

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"Dunfermline Press"
2 February, 1901

This issue carried Reports of the Fatal Accident Inquiries into the deaths of John Chalmers, engineman; James Black, miner, and Robert Hamilton, pit inspector, all Bowhill Colliery. The manager, Mr R. A. Muir, gave evidence in the Chalmers case where a verdict in accordance with the evidence was returned.
The Jury returned a formal verdict in the deaths of Black and Hamilton when those giving evidence included:- Mr R. A. Muir, manager; Matthew Donaldson, brusher; John Keddie, pit inspector; and James Webster, pit inspector.

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"Dunfermline Press"
9 February, 1901

James Slaven, miner, Denend, met with an accident in the Josephine Pit, Bowhill, on Wednesday afternoon. He was hewing at the face when a prop slipped, and a piece of coal, weighing about six cwt. came away, and, falling upon his right leg, caused a fracture below the knee. He was attended to by Dr Rorie, Cardenden.

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"Dunfermline Press"
22 June, 1901

While working in the Josephine Pit, Bowhill Colliery, on Thursday morning, James Gilchrist, a miner, residing at Bowhill, met with an unfortunate accident, caused by an unexpected fall of coal, whereby the little finger of his left hand was completely severed, and the hand otherwise injured. The unfortunate man was attended to at his home by Drs Rorie and Black.

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"Dunfermline Press"
12 October, 1901

William Rankine, junior, miner, No. 23 Fifth Street, Bowhill, was fatally injured on Monday in No. 1 Pit, Bowhill Colliery. He was engaged at brushing work near the face in the five-feet seam of the west section of the pit when a stone weighing about ten cwts fell from the side, knocking him down and crushing him against a hutch. He sustained severe internal injuries and was rendered unconscious, and died the following morning. Deceased was seventeen years of age.

See Fatal accident inquiry, below.

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"Dunfermline Press"
19 October, 1901

David Ross, a pony driver, residing at Balgonie Cottages, Auchterderran, sustained a fracture of one of his legs on Saturday in No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery. Ross was pushing two hutches in front of him, and a lad was following with a single hutch. The hutch which was following struck against Ross, causing a compound fracture of his right leg a little above the ankle.

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"Dunfermline Press"
26 October, 1901

On Wednesday, a serious accident occurred in the Josephine No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery. While Alexander Wildridge, sen., miner, residing at Rosbine Cottage, Lochgelly, was in the act of adjusting the chain on a wheel on one of the wheel braes in the Jubilee Seam, the wheel was set in motion, and Wildridge's left hand was drawn into the revolving wheel, crushing and cutting it in a fearful manner. The unfortunate man was medically attended to at the colliery by Dr Rorie and conveyed to the Dunfermline Cottage Hospital in the ambulance van. On arriving there it was found necessary to amputate the fingers of the injured hand.

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"Dunfermline Press"
2 November, 1901

At the Fatal Accident Inquiry in Dunfermline Sheriff Court, on Thursday, under Sheriff Gillespie, the jury returned a formal verdict on the death of William Rankine, junior, miner, Bowhill, who was injured in No. 1 Pit, Bowhill, but died the following day. Those giving evidence at the inquiry included:- John Bowman, colliery manager; John Duncan, miner, 1 Balgonie Cottages, Jamphlars; James Yunson, chain runner, 28 Main Street, Lochgelly; Angus Hugh, contractor brusher, 8 Main Street, Lochgelly; and Andrew Barclay, pit inspector, Capledrae Rows, Lochgelly.

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"Dunfermline Press"
23 November, 1901

Benjamin Ireland (36), tramp miner or labourer, was found dead on a bing of ashes near the pumping engines at Bowhill Colliery, on Sunday. The man had his jacket wrapped round his head as if he had lain down on the bing the previous night to sleep. There were marks of slight burning about the body, but it is supposed that death was due to suffocation, caused by fumes from smouldering ashes.

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"Dunfermline Press"
17 May, 1902

Early on Saturday forenoon, George Innes (75), foreman pitheadman, residing at Denend, was descending a wooden stair at No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, when the stair gave way and he fell to the ground, a distance of seven-and-a-half feet. Two of his ribs were broken and his collar bone was fractured.

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"Dunfermline Press"
28 June, 1902

Andrew Baird, pony driver, 3 Grainger Street, Lochgelly, sustained a fracture of the skull while he was at work on Friday last in No. 1 Josephine Pit, Bowhill Colliery. He was coupling a race of hutches when another race came up, jamming his head between the two sets of vehicles.

See Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, dated 24th September, 1904 below.

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"Dunfermline Press"
25 October, 1902

Alexander Ritchie, miner, 2 Bowhill Cottages, met with a peculiar accident on Friday last. He was engaged driving a mine at Bowhill Colliery, and was in the act of explaining to a friend the working of an electric battery, when the charge exploded with the result that Ritchie was rather seriously injured.

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"Dunfermline Press"
15 November, 1902

What might have proved a more serious accident occurred at No. 1 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, on Wednesday. While a number of men were descending the shaft the cage struck the bottom with considerable force. One of them - James Murdoch, miner, Tenth Street, Bowhill - was thrown down and rendered unconscious. He was afterwards found to be suffering from shock and concussion of the brain. His companions escaped without injury.

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"Dunfermline Press"
22 November, 1902

John Fisher, miner, Jessamine Cottages, Auchterderran, had two of his ribs broken on Wednesday through a piece of coal falling from the roof upon him while he was at work in No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery.

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"Dunfermline Press"
27 June, 1903

At a recent examination in mining held in Edinburgh, the following pupils - all officials at Bowhill Colliery - obtained first-class certificates - Messrs William Barclay, Thomas Welsh, George Beveridge, and Robert Brown. William Brown passed the examination entitling him to a second-class certificate.

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"Dunfermline Press"
8 August, 1903

While engaged in No. 1 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, on Tuesday, James Innes, miner, residing in Bowhill, was seriously injured by a fall of fireclay and stone from the roof. Dr Dalgleish, who was summoned, found the man suffering from severe bruises on the back and right thigh. The doctor ordered his removal to Kirkcaldy Cottage Hospital.

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"Dunfermline Press"
22 August, 1903

David Nairn, forty years of age, an underground fireman, residing in Bowhill, was fatally injured at nine o'clock on Monday morning in the underground workings of No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery. He was repairing a roof at the foot of a wheel brae, when he was knocked down by a race of hutches. He was hurt internally. On his being conveyed home, he was attended to by Dr Rorie, but succumbed to his injuries at three o'clock in the afternoon.

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"Dunfermline Press"
5 September, 1903

Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, an inquiry was held in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, on Wednesday - before Sheriff Gillespie and a jury - into the circumstances attending the death of David Nairn, pit inspector, Bowhill. Those giving evidence included:- John Bowman, manager; Andrew Watters, miner; Robert Doig, drawer, 17 Pottery Street, Kirkcaldy; William Robertson, drawer or wheeler, 27 Third Street, Bowhill; and James Swan, pit worker, Bowhill. A formal verdict was returned by the jury.

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"Dunfermline Press"
19 September, 1903

While engaged drawing hutches on a wheelbrae in No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, on Saturday, Francis Dick, drawer, residing in Bowhill was badly crushed by a full hutch accidentally coming against him. He was attended to by Dr Rorie, Cardenden.

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26 September, 1903

Robert Small, miner, Earl's Hall, Auchterderran, had his left leg fractured in two places last week in No. 1 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, about a ton and a half of coal bursting from the face where he was at work.

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"Dunfermline Press"
24 October, 1903

A miner named John Beveridge, residing at Balgonie Terrace, was seriously injured early on Monday at Bowhill Pit, belonging to the Bowhill Coal Company, Limited. Beveridge was working at the coal face when a fall from the roof occurred. He was extricated with difficulty, and when medically attended to, it was found that one of his legs was badly fractured, and that he was otherwise injured. The colliery has been remarkably free from accidents.

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"Dunfermline Press"
31 October, 1903

Joseph Beveridge, roadsman, Balgonie Terrace, Auchterderran, was employed in No. 1 dook of No. 1 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, on Monday, when a large stone fell upon him from the roof, fracturing his right leg.

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"Dunfermline Press"
7 November, 1903

We understand that the Bowhill Coal Company have secured a very large order for their famous Bowhill navigation steam coal with a fast Atlantic line of steamships.

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"Dunfermline Press"
16 January, 1904

The Earl of Tankerville and party visited Bowhill Colliery, Cardenden, on Thursday, and made an inspection both above and below ground.

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"Dunfermline Press"
5 March, 1904

Recently the Directors of Bowhill Colliery Company fitted up at their works an ambulance house, equipped with stretchers, an ambulance litter, and other appliances for "first aid" treatment of men sustaining injuries in their employment. ...

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"Dunfermline Press"
12 March, 1904

Charles Taylor, thirty-six years of age, Haulageman, residing at Jamphlars, Auchterderran, died on Thursday as the result of injuries received the previous day in the west dook of No. 1 Pit, Bowhill Colliery. While he was riding on the first of two loaded hutches, the vehicles went off the rails, and he was jammed against a pit prop, and was severely crushed.

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"Dunfermline Press"
2 April, 1904

Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, an inquiry was held in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, on Tuesday - before Sheriff Gillespie and a jury - into the circumstances attending the death of a haulageman named Charles Taylor, residing at Jamphlars, who was injured 10 March in No. 1 Pit, Bowhill Colliery. Those giving evidence included:- William McQuiston, Seventh Street, Bowhill; William Spence, pit brusher, Balgonie Terrace, Auchterderran; Robert Brown, oversman, the Cottages, Bowhill; James Thomson, haulage engineman, Launcherhead, Lochgelly; and Richard Yarley, a brother-in-law of Taylor. The Jury returned a formal verdict.

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"Dunfermline Press"
6 August, 1904

Alexander Herd, miner, Coupour, Auchterderran, was employed at the face in No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, on Monday, when a piece of redd fell from the roof upon him, fracturing his right thigh.

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"Dunfermline Press"
24 September, 1904

Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, an inquiry was held in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, on Thursday - before Sheriff Shennan and a jury - into the circumstances attending the death of Andrew Baird, pit drawer, 3 Melville Street, Lochgelly, who was fatally injured on 20 June 1902, in No. 1 Josephine Pit, Bowhill, through his head being squeezed between two loaded hutches, and who died on 4^th August 1904, as the result of the accident.
Those giving evidence at the inquiry included:- David McKenzie, pony driver, Dundas Street, Lochgelly; Thomas Scott, miner, Rosslyn Street, Gallatown, Kirkcaldy; Robert Brown, oversman, No. 1 Third Street, Bowhill; and Isabella Baird or Guy, wife of John Guy, miner, Melville Street, Lochgelly, the sister of Andrew Baird. A formal verdict was returned by the Jury.

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"Dunfermline Press"
7 January, 1905

An explosion of gas occurred on Saturday in No. 1 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, by which John Brand and his son Robert were injured - the latter fatally. The son was severely burned about the face, arms, and hands, and the father, in addition to burning injuries, received a severe scalp wound. The two men were conveyed to Kirkcaldy Cottage Hospital, where Robert died on Monday night.

Footnote
See Fatal Accidents Inquiry on 4 February, 1905 below.

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"Dunfermline Press"
4 February, 1905

Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, an inquiry was held in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, on Thursday - before Sheriff Shennan and a jury - into the circumstances attending the death of a miner named Robert Brand, Cardenden, who, in Kirkcaldy Cottage Hospital on 2^nd January, succumbed to injuries sustained by an explosion of inflammable gas in No. 1 Pit, Bowhill, on the last day of 1904. Those giving evidence at the inquiry included:- Robert Brown, oversman; John Brand, miner, Cardenden (father of deceased); William Veale, miner, Lady Campbell's Walk; James Simpson, pit inspector; and Alexander Barclay, inspector. A formal verdict was returned by the Jury.

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"Dunfermline Press"
4 February, 1905

A miner named James Barclay had his leg broken while working in Bowhill Colliery on Thursday.

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"Dunfermline Press"
11 March, 1905

THE RECENT EXPLOSION AT BOWHILL
CHARGE AGAINST PIT INSPECTOR

A sequel to the recent explosion in No. 1 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, by which a miner received injuries which terminated fatally, was heard in Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Thursday, when Alexander Barclay, fireman or pit inspector, residing at 10 Sixteenth Street, Bowhill, was charged with a contravention of the Coal Mines Regulation Act. ... The Sheriff did not think the case was one of carelessness, and he imposed a modified penalty of 5s.

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"Dunfermline Press"
13 May, 1905

Robert Christie, miner, High Street, Lochgelly, was injured in the underground workings at Bowhill Colliery on Tuesday by a fall from the roof. His injuries consisted of three broken ribs, the material which came away striking him on the right side and back. Christie was conveyed to his home in the colliery ambulance waggon.

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"Dunfermline Press"
17 June, 1905

In a wheel-brae in No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, on Monday morning, Andrew Vanbreak, miner, Low Row, Denend, was suddenly thrown backwards by a loaded hutch. He sustained injuries consisting of a compound fracture of the right arm, a fracture of the right shoulder blade, and two broken ribs.

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"Dunfermline Press"
24 June, 1905

The Bowhill Coal Company are introducing a new electric power installation at their colliery and also intend to light the village of Bowhill by means of electricity.
At the colliery, which is one of the largest in the country, turning out an average of 2000 tons per day, the magnificent equipment, hall-marked with the ingenuity of the manager, Mr R. A. Muir, is ever being improved, and the latest inception is an electric power installation on a much more extensive scale that that prevailing.
Steam is all very well for the working of an engine, say, at the pit bottom, but when the pipes from the boilers have to be taken round corners and along roads the power is minimised, so much so in some cases as to be of practically little value.
Electricity, on the other hand, can be used at will, and applied to fullest advantage in any part of the workings, and this fact has been grasped by the enterprising gentlemen forming the Bowhill Coal Company.
A commodious engine-house has been completed, and the machinery is being fitted up; the probability is that the current will be turned on within a fortnight. The engine is a very powerful one - slow speed, compound, high pressure and low pressure cylinders, of 500 horse-power, and with 90 revolutions per minute.
The h.p. cylinder is 22½ inches, and the l.p. cylinder 33 inches, while the stroke is 42 inches. The engine drives a 3-phase alternator, which generates the power by 14 ropes instead of belting. The latter machine is of 600 h.p., and is by Bruce, Peebles, & Company, Edinburgh. The utilisation of the power will be wholly underground, and the small plant in use at the moment will form a very reliable stand-by.
The scheme of lighting is also an important one. A thoroughly up-to-date and powerful lighting plant is on order, and it is proposed to illumine the spacious pit bottom with electricity, and also the streets of Bowhill.
Bowhill, it may be mentioned, is the first pit in Fife to put electricity to such extensive usage.

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"Cowdenbeath & Lochgelly Times"
28 June, 1905

Bowhill Coal Company has decided to light the houses and streets of the village. Bowhill is the first colliery in Fife to put electricity to such extensive use. The colliery is now turning out 2000 tons of coal per day.

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"Dunfermline Press"
25 November, 1905

On Saturday evening, a large company met in the Gothenburg and presented Mr Robert Hunter with a gift on the occasion of his leaving Bowhill Colliery to fill a position in Glencraig. Mr John Brown, oversman, presided, and Mr William Innes made the presentation, which took the form of a handsome gold albert and appendage, suitably inscribed, and a silver teapot for Mrs Hunter.

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"Dunfermline Press"
9 December, 1905

It was reported that Mr Thomas Finlay, who has been five years foreman at Bowhill Colliery Brickwork, was leaving to fill a responsible position in Oxford.

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"Dunfermline Press"
20 January, 1906

During shunting operations at Bowhill Colliery late on Thursday evening, a rather serious accident happened to William Fleming, shunter, residing at Balgonie Terrace. Fleming was engaged removing waggons from one siding to another. The driver, failing to get an expected signal, went back and found the unfortunate man lying with his right leg run over. He was at once removed to the colliery ambulance room and attended to by Dr Bowman, who had him removed to Kirkcaldy Cottage Hospital, where the leg was amputated below the knee.

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"Dunfermline Press"
17 February, 1906

Mr R. A. Muir, manager of the Bowhill Coal Company, delivered an interesting lecture before a large attendance in the hall of the Queen Anne Street United Free Church, Dunfermline, on Tuesday evening, on "Modern Mining".

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"Dunfermline Press"
24 March, 1906

On Sunday night while David Smith (42), pit-head worker, Kinglassie, was engaged carrying wood at Bowhill Pit, several props rolled off the pile on top of him, breaking his right leg above the ankle.

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"Dunfermline Press"
14 April, 1906

Serious injuries were sustained at the Bowhill Colliery on Tuesday by a miner named Peter McFarlane, residing at Westfield, Cardenden. McFarlane was working in No. 2 Pit when a piece of stone burst from the face of the working and jammed him against a pillar causing internal injuries. McFarlane was removed to the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital.

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"Dunfermline Press"
5 May, 1906

... A gloom was cast over Bowhill on Tuesday when it became known that George Ross, bottomer in No. 1 pit, belonging to the Bowhill Coal Company, had met with his death under painful circumstances. His duties were to assist in taking off the empty hutches and putting the loads on the cage at the pit bottom. He was thus engaged when the cage was moved, and he was dragged up the shaft. His head was crushed to such an extent that the face was scarcely recognisable. Owing to the nature of his injuries death must have been instantaneous. Deceased was thirty-nine years of age, and resided at Thirteenth Street, Bowhill. He leaves a widow and eight of a family, for whom much sympathy is felt.

Footnote
See Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, on 2 June, 1906 below.

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"Dunfermline Press"
12 May, 1906

A party of fifty mining students attending Mr Parker's classes at Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath, Edinburgh, and West Calder, visited Bowhill Colliery on Saturday for the purpose of inspecting the modern and well-equipped machinery which is in use at this pit. The attention of the visitors was specially taken up with the three-phase electric coal cutting machine. The company afterwards had lunch together at the "Gothenburg".

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"Dunfermline Press"
26 May, 1906

... There was also a cessation of operations at the Bowhill Colliery on Monday night owing to an outbreak of fire. On Sunday afternoon an underground worker on his way to the stables observed that the dook working was on fire. The alarm was raised with all promptitude, and steps were taken to extinguish the outbreak, and fortunately this did not prove so difficult as was at first expected. Water was allowed to flow into the workings, and the fire was got under. It was, however, deemed advisable to cease work for the day, because of the danger of after-damp. The morning shift was not, accordingly, allowed to descend the mine. Several hundreds of men were off work for the day. Operations were resumed on Tuesday.

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"Dunfermline Press"
2 June, 1906

Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, an inquiry was held in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, on Thursday - before Sheriff Gillespie and a Jury - into the circumstances attending the death of a pit bottomer named George Ross, lately residing at 24 Thirteenth Street, Bowhill, who on 1^st May was killed in No. 1 Pit, Bowhill Colliery by being crushed between an ascending cage and the lining of the shaft. After hearing evidence a formal verdict was returned.

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"Dunfermline Press"
2 June, 1906

Andrew Mathieson, a young lad employed as a drawer in No. 1 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, and residing at Jamphlars, received severe bruises on Tuesday through being crushed between two hutches.

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"Dunfermline Press"
2 June, 1906

On Wednesday morning Alex. Mathewson, pit worker, Auchterderran, was caught by a runaway hutch in No. 2 Bowhill Pit, and bruised about the body. He was conveyed to Kirkcaldy Cottage Hospital, where he died early on Thursday morning.

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"Dunfermline Press"
30 June, 1906

Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, an inquiry was held in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, on Thursday - before Sheriff Shennan and a Jury - into the circumstances attending the death of Alexander Mathieson, pit drawer, lately residing at 16 Balgonie Terrace, Auchterderran, who died in Kirkcaldy Cottage Hospital, as the result of injuries sustained by a runaway hutch in No. 2 pit, Bowhill Colliery. Among those giving evidence at the inquiry were:- Thomas Struthers, miner, 13^th Street, Bowhill; Alex. Barclay, oversman, 3 Sixteenth Street, Bowhill; and James Webster, fireman. A formal verdict was returned by the jury.

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"Dunfermline Press"
28 July, 1906

George Leitch, pitworker, fourteen years of age, residing at Station Road, Auchterderran, was killed in the underground workings of No. 1 pit, Bowhill Colliery, on Thursday morning. Along with two others, he was engaged removing bars from a hutch when a fall took place from the roof. Leitch was buried by the material, which weighed about four tons. When the body was extricated, life was found to be extinct. In the opinion of Dr Jones, Bowhill, death must have been instantaneous. There was a severe fracture of the skull.

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"Dunfermline Press"
28 July, 1906

This issue also carried the news of the death of Mr Walter Bartholomew, which took place on Saturday morning about ten o'clock, after a comparatively short illness. The deceased gentleman was a director of the Bowhill Coal Company, and to that Company, and Bowhill Building Company he devoted much of his time.

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"Dunfermline Press"
29 September, 1906

Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, an inquiry was held in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, on Thursday - before Sheriff Shennan and a Jury - into the circumstances attending the death of a pit drawer named George Leitch, lately residing at Station Road, Cardenden. Leitch was killed on 26th July in No. 2 brae in the five-feet seam of No. 1 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, by a quantity of stone falling upon him from the roof. Those giving evidence at the inquiry included:- William Hendrie, wheeler, 3 Sixth Street, Bowhill; Robert Brown, 12 Sixteenth Street, Bowhill; Charles Mason, fireman, 28 James Place, Dunfermline; and Henry Burt, fireman, Hawthorn Cottage, Auchterderran. The Jury returned a verdict setting forth the time, place, and cause of the accident, with a recommendation to the following effect:- "That in future colliery owners take adequate precautions for securing that long timber being carried on incline workings shall not strike the roof, by the use of low bogies, or other equally secure means."

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"Dunfermline Press"
13 October, 1906

On Monday forenoon about seventy members of Dundee Institute of Engineers visited Bowhill Colliery. The party was met at the office by Mr R. A. Muir, general manager, who, along with Mr John Bowman, manager, conducted them through the workings underground.
The machinery, which is up to date, formed a very interesting subject for the visitors. The output of the Company is considerably over 2000 tons per day, while extensions are being made to bring this up to 3000 tons.
Before leaving, the company was entertained to lunch through the generosity of Smith, Hood, & Co., Dundee, agents for Bowhill Company. Messrs D. Scott and John Lindsay acknowledged the kindness of Bowhill Company and their agents.

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"Dunfermline Press"
2 February, 1907

Mr R. A. Muir, general manager of the Bowhill (Fife) Colliery Company gave evidence this week before the Departmental Committee on the question of an eight hours' day for miners.

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H. M. Inspector of Mines Report
Mr. Robert McLaren's Report

Fatal Accident at Bowhill, Fife
Owner: Bowhill Coal Co., Ltd.
2 April, 1907

John Ross, 21, Miner. Deceased was engaged taking down coal, when the roof suddenly collapsed, and he was badly injured; he died from his injuries 19 days later. The roof fell away by two parallel lypes, which were unseen.

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"Dunfermline Press"
6 April, 1907

While William Robertson, miner, 24 years of age, and who resides at Leslie, was at work in No. 1 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, on Saturday, a fall of coal came away unexpectedly, fracturing his right leg and injuring his spine and head. He was attended to by Dr Ure, and then conveyed to Kirkcaldy Cottage Hospital.

About half-past seven o'clock on Tuesday evening, John Ross (21), miner, Auchterderran, was employed in the Lochgelly west splint dook, No. 2 Pit, Bowhill, when a piece of stone and blae fell from the roof and struck him on the haunch. He was conveyed home and attended to by Dr Bowman, who found that the bladder was ruptured, and that Ross had been otherwise internally injured. The doctor ordered his removal to the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital.
[See above Fatal Accident entry, and 27 April report below.]

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H. M. Inspector of Mines Report 1907
Mr. Robert McLaren's Report

Fatal Accident at Bowhill, Fife
Owner: Bowhill Coal Co., Ltd.
16 April, 1907

Thomas Nicol, 32, Miner. Deceased was clearing away coal to make room for a prop, when a stone fell from the roof and striking him he was killed instantly.

"Dunfermline Press"
20 April, 1907

While engaged in what is known as the Jubilee seam of No. 2 pit, Bowhill Colliery, on Tuesday, Thomas Nicol (32), a miner, residing at Moray Place, Auchterderran, met with a serious accident. A large stone which fell from the roof struck him on the left side, breaking his left leg, fracturing two ribs, and injuring his face. The injured man was conveyed to the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital, and later in the afternoon he was removed to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he died shortly after admission.

"Dunfermline Press"
27 April, 1907

Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, an inquiry was held in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, on Thursday - before Sheriff Shennan and a Jury - into the circumstances attending the death of Thomas Nicol, jun., miner, lately residing at Murray Place, Auchterderran, who was injured on 16th April in No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, by a stone falling upon him from the roof, and died the following day in the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital. Those giving evidence included:- James Nicol, miner, Colquhally, Auchterderran (a brother of the deceased); Alexander Barclay, oversman, 3 Sixteenth Street, Bowhill; and Thomas Seath, pit fireman, 7 Fourteenth Street, Bowhill. A formal verdict was returned.

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"Dunfermline Press"
27 April, 1907

FATAL RESULT OF PIT ACCIDENT

The death took place in Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital on Sunday of John Ross, miner, Auchterderran, who was injured while working in No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, nearly three weeks ago. He had been engaged at the coal face when a large stone came away from the roof and struck him, causing severe internal injuries.

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"Dunfermline Press"
1 June, 1907

John Davidson, miner, residing at Cardenden, was seriously injured in the Duddy seam of No. 2 pit, belonging to the Bowhill Coal Company, on Monday. While he was engaged at the face a fall of blae came away, injuring him about the lower part of the body. On the same evening William Brown, belonging to Lochgelly, while engaged working at the face in No. 2 pit, Bowhill Colliery, sustained internal injuries to the lower part of his body.

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"Dunfermline Press"
8 June, 1907

This issue carried the news that Mr William Gray, who for a considerable time occupied the position of inspector in No. 1 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, has left Bowhill.

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"Dunfermline Press"
15 June, 1907

Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, an inquiry was held in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, on Thursday - before Sheriff Shennan and a Jury - into the circumstances attending the death of a miner named John Ross, lately residing at Auchterderran, who was injured on 2nd April in No. 2 pit, Bowhill Colliery, by a quantity of material falling upon him from the roof, and died on 21st April in the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital. Those giving evidence at the inquiry included:- John Bowman, manager; David Dorome, miner, Auchterderran; James Reid, oncost worker, Burnfield Cottages, Cardenden; and John Smart, fireman, Kinglassie. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence.

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"Dunfermline Press"
31 August, 1907
MINERAL DEVELOPMENT

The Bowhill Coal Company are, it is understood, to commence on an early date the sinking of two new pits. They will be situated on the left side of the Kirkcaldy-Thornton Road.

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"Dunfermline Press"
2 November, 1907

This issue carried the news that Mr R. Brown, Bowhill Colliery, received a presentation on his leaving the district for Kincardine-on-Forth.

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H. M. Inspector of Mines Report 1907
Mr. Robert McLaren's Report

Fatal Accident at Bowhill, Fife
Owner: Bowhill Coal Co., Ltd.
13 December, 1907

Andrew Ritchie, 39, Pump motorman.

An accident due to this cause [electricity] occurred at Bowhill Colliery, Fife. The system is alternating, with voltage of 500, three phase, and the cable is armoured. In the Lochgelly Splint Coal dook a three throw pump had just been placed, 1,100 yards inbye, and only a few days started prior to the accident. No one saw the accident, and when deceased was discovered he appeared to have been dead for some considerable time. He lay across the sole plate of the motor, and partly under it, and beside him was a piece of iron 18 inches long by 1½ inches broad by ¼ inch thick ragged and sharp at one end, and on examining the cable at the junction where the separate cores leave the armoured part to join the stator coils of the motor, a puncture was discovered right through the insulation to the upper core, while near the cable was a piece of wooden flooring. It appears that while the motor was in motion deceased attempted to put in some flooring under the cable, and in order to get the flooring in position he had to raise the cable, and for this purpose he took the piece of iron to lever it up, with the result that the sharp end cut through the insulation, making the piece of iron "live" and causing the full current to pass right through him. The motor was properly "earthed" by a separate wire carried back to the armouring on the cable, which cable in turn was "earthed" at various parts between the pump and the shaft.

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"Dunfermline Press"
14 December, 1907
FIFE ENGINEMAN ELECTROCUTED

Andrew Ritchie, attendant on an electric engine at Bowhill Colliery, Lochgelly, was found dead early yesterday morning beside the engine. It is supposed that he had come in contact with live wires, with the result that he was electrocuted. The engine was situated below the ground in a dook, and used in connection with the pumping of water. Ritchie, who resided at Bowhill, was about 40 years of age, and leaves a widow and family.

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"Dunfermline Press"
25 January, 1908

Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, an inquiry was held in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, on Thursday into the circumstances attending the death of Andrew Ritchie, electric motor pump attendant, lately residing at 18 Seventeenth Street, Bowhill, who was killed on 13 December in No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, by an electric shock from the cable conveying the current to the pump. Those giving evidence at the inquiry included:- Robert Brown, assistant manager; Robert Weir, electrician; James Reynolds, haulage engineman; Thomas Clark, inspector; and John Sharp, brusher. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence, it being specifically mentioned that the cause of the accident was not proved, but that there was no evidence to connect the accident with any defect in the machinery.

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"Dunfermline Press"
18 January, 1908

Andrew Kerr, thirty-five years of age, a miner, residing at Balgonie Terrace, Bowhill, was fatally injured last week-end while employed in No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery. He was engaged on the back shift, and had been stemming a shot when it exploded, and he was killed instantaneously - part of his face and several of his fingers being blown off.

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"Dunfermline Press"
25 January, 1908

Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, an inquiry was held in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, on Thursday - before Sheriff Shennan and a Jury - into the circumstances attending the death of a miner, Andrew Kerr, lately residing at 8 Balgonie Terrace, Auchterderran, who was killed on 10 January in No. 2 Pit. Bowhill, by an explosion, while charging a shot hole with blasting gelatine. Those giving evidence at the inquiry included:- Andrew Brown, assistant manager; Daniel Fraser, miner; Archibald Seath, miner, Bowhill; and James Hunter, miner. The Sheriff indicated that the Jury might add to a formal verdict the opinion that the explosion was caused through difficulty in charging one of the holes, and that the fact that the gelatine was insufficiently heated, caused it to accidentally explode by friction. The Jury gave effect, in general terms, to the suggestions.

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"Dunfermline Press"
1 February, 1908

Mr John Bowman, late manager of Bowhill and Cluny Collieries, under the Bowhill Coal Company (Fife), Limited, Cardenden, has received the appointment of general manager to the Labuan Coal Company, Ltd., Labuan, near the Borneo Island, in the West Indies.
Commencing his mining career in Fordell Colliery, Mr Bowman subsequently held positions of charge under the Donibristle Coal Company, and also at Buckhaven Collieries, thereafter becoming manager of Bowhill Colliery six years ago, a post he occupied with much acceptance until his retiral last week, preparatory to take up his new duties. He has throughout his career as a colliery manager shown that he had a thorough grasp of practical mining, as was disclosed during his term as teacher of the Fife Mining School at Cowdenbeath for the period of four years. He displayed great enthusiasm in the endeavour to rescue the entombed miners at the unfortunate disaster which occurred some years ago at Moss Morran, Donibristle.

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"The Scotsman"
15 February, 1908

IMPORTANT FIFE COLLIERY AMALGAMATION. - An arrangement of much importance to all concerned in the Fife coal trade has been arrived at whereby the Bowhill Coal Company (Limited) have acquired the collieries and minerals at present worked by Messrs Walter Herd & Sons, Dunnikier Colliery, Kirkcaldy. The coalfields of the two companies adjoin each other, and the combination will give the amalgamated company control over those seams of coal extending from Bowhill to the shore, and also coal under the sea. The Dunnikier Collieries have been many years in existence, and include the seams of Begg and Dunnikier, and also the seams on Dysart estate underlying the Dysart main. The coalfields will extend over several miles, and very extensive developments of the industry are anticipated at an early date. Borings have already been made near the village of Thornton, and extensive work is likely to be undertaken between Kirkcaldy and Markinch.

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"Dunfermline Press"
9 May, 1908

A wheeler named George Campbell, residing in Westfield Rows, Auchterderran, met with an accident on Wednesday morning while working in the "splint" seam of No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery. Campbell had not long commenced his shift when a rake of hutches left the rails. He was in the act of putting them right, when the wheel brake slipped, with the result that he was jammed between the hutches and severely bruised about the abdomen and legs. Dr Drummond was in attendance, and the injured man was conveyed home in the ambulance van. -
Robert McCrae (23), a miner, residing in Ninth Street, Bowhill, also met with an accident on Wednesday. McCrae was working in the "duddy" section of the same pit, and was in the act of lighting a shot, when another blast prepared by his neighbour went off, the result being that McCrae was severely burned about the face. Dr Bowman, Craigderran, was in attendance, and ordered the unfortunate man's removal to Edinburgh Infirmary. It is possible that McCrae may lose the sight of both eyes.

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"Dunfermline Press"
6 June, 1908
AN UNEXPLAINED ACCIDENT

Samuel Neish, jun., miner, lately residing at 20 Leven Vale, Leven, was injured on 26 September 1907 in No. 2 pit, Bowhill Colliery, by a quantity of material falling upon him from the roof. Neish died from the effect of his injuries on 5 May 1908. From the evidence it appeared that some time prior to the fall of fireclay a shot had been fired, but none of the witnesses were able to explain the cause of the accident. Neish was first taken to the Kirkcaldy Hospital, and then to his mother's house, where he died. The jury returned a formal verdict.

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"Dunfermline Press"
8 August, 1908

Early on Saturday morning, Robert Anderson (22), Rankine's Buildings, Kinglassie, met with a fatal accident while employed at Bowhill Colliery. In the section where deceased was employed the coal was wrought in two portions, the upper part being taken down a little in advance of the lower. He was in the act of clearing away the coal from the upper section when without the slightest warning, a large stone fell upon him from the roof. When the body was extricated it was found that life was extinct, the neck having been broken. According to the doctor who examined the body, death must have been instantaneous.

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"Dunfermline Press"
12 September, 1908

Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, an inquiry was held in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, on Thursday - before Sheriff Shennan and a Jury - into the circumstances attending the death of Robert Anderson, miner, lately residing at Rankine's Buildings, Kinglassie, who was killed on 1 August in No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery by a quantity of material falling upon him from the roof. Those giving evidence included:- Robert Brown, colliery manager; Daniel McLaren, pit drawer, Main Street, Kinglassie; Andrew Fernie, miner, Main Street, Kinglassie; and Andrew Blackadder, pit fireman, 10 Eighth Street, Bowhill. A formal verdict was returned.

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"Dunfermline Press"
26 September, 1908

John Ferns, thirty-one years of age, machineman, 21 Eighteenth Street, Bowhill, was fatally injured while employed at Bowhill Colliery on Saturday. He was working at a coal-cutter when he became entangled with the cutting bar of the machine and was drawn among the picks. So serious were his injuries that he succumbed shortly afterwards.

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"Dunfermline Press"
17 October, 1908

Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, an inquiry was held in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, on Thursday - before Sheriff Shennan and a Jury - into the circumstances attending the death of Peter Ferns, machineman, lately residing at 21 Eighteenth Street, Bowhill, who was killed on 19 September in No. 2 Pit, Bowhill Colliery, by a coal-cutting machine. Those giving evidence included:- Andrew Barclay, night shift oversman; William Grieve, brusher, 17 Fourth Street, Bowhill; Robert Lessells, machineman, 8 Eighteenth Street, Bowhill; and Wm. Edwards, machineman. The jury found that the deceased was killed through being caught by the picks of revolving bar on the coal-cutting machine at which he was wor