Lassodie Colliery

Owners: Lassodie Coal Co.
Thomas Spowart & Co. Ltd.

From research and records, we can indicate the existence of the following pits or mines in the Lassodie field:

Easter Craigduckie No. 1; Lassodie Nos. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11; Lochfitty Nos. 1, 2; Lassodie Estate (Methven's Mines); Thornton.

Most of the locations of these pits or mines have been identified but, as you will note on the map, there are a number of coal workings in the Lassodie field still to be identified.

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Old Parish records are a great source of information in spite of the many variations in spellings of names, etc., laid down in these documents. The names of some early miners, and the dates when they were working the early, small coalworks, are revealed in records of births, deaths, and marriages, the first of these records often accompanied by colourful descriptions of what they had been up to, and with whom!

23 May 1609, Pate Meffwan, collier in Lassodie Heuch, "had twa wemen chyldren borne to him in adulterie, the ane of Issobell Kellok, the other of Kate Proud, baptized and callit, the ane Catharine and the uther Nans. The said Pate Meffwan efter the first adulterie committit with Issobell Kellok in the verray tyme that he wes making his repentance for the same he falls the secund tyme in adulterie with Kate Proud."

25 Oct 1618, Nicol Broun, collier in Lassodie, and Mawse Spittell had David; witnesses, David Dewar, Thomas Horne, William Mackie.

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"The Scotsman"
Wednesday, 2 March 1825
FARMS AND COAL IN THE WEST OF FIFE.

To be Let for nineteen years, or such number of years as may be agreed upon.
The following FARMS on the ESTATE of LASSODIE, in the parish of Beath, about four miles from Dunfermline, viz.

The Farms being contiguous, will be let either two or more of them conjoined, or in such divisions as may be agreed on. The lands are mostly arable, fit for any mode of husbandry, and susceptible of great improvement at a moderate expense, from the excellent Lime rock on the lands being now opened, and having commenced burning. They are well situated for markets, the turnpike road from Dunfermline to Kinross running through the lands.
The COAL on the lands of Lassodie will be let on liberal terms, and at a fixed rent or lordship, or both, as may be agreed on.
For particulars application may be made to Mr. William Beveridge, writer in Dunfermline; and the lands will be shown by applying at Lassodie House.
Offers will be received till the 1st day of July next, by Mr. Beveridge, or George Combe, W. S. 2, Brown Square, Edinburgh.

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"The Scotsman"
20 August, 1828
VALUABLE COAL AND LIME ON THE
ESTATE OF LASSODDIE, TO BE LET.

THE COAL will be LET for nineteen years; the LIME for such a number of years as may be agreed upon. They lie contiguous, are of superior quality, easily accessible, and for both there is a ready and extensive demand.
Personal applications to Dr Coventry, North Charlotte Street; George Combe, W. S.25, Northumberland Street, Edinburgh; Mr Robert Douglas, writer, Dunfermline; or, by letter, to the proprietor, to the care of Mr Combe.

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"The Scotsman"
Wednesday, 26 June, 1850
DESIRABLE ESTATE IN FIFESHIRE
REDUCED UPSET PRICE, £11,000.

To be SOLD by Public Roup, within McNab's Hotel, Cupar, on Wednesday 17th July 1850, at One P.M.

THE ESTATE OF COCKLAW, including the LANDS of LASSODIE, Part of WINDY-EDGE; and the SUPERIORITY and FEU DUTIES of the VILLAGE of OAKFIELD, &c., measuring 403 Acres Imperial or thereby, together with Two-thirds of the MILL of LASSODIE and CONVERTED MULTURES effeiring thereto; all belonging to the Sequestrated Estate of Mr. James Moodie, deceased, as formerly advertised.

This Estate has a fine southern exposure, is mostly enclosed, and, by judicious drainage and improvements, may be made one of the most eligible properties in the West of Fife. There are Six or Seven Seams of COAL on the Lands of Lassodie, which Mr. D. Landale, mining engineer, Edinburgh, reports to be of considerable value, and there is also a Small Field of BLACKBAND IRONSTONE, which being associated with a thin wild Coal, could be wrought at a moderate expense.
There are about 20 acres in thriving Plantations, affording shelter, and at same time ornamental. The Property lies in the parish of Beath, within two miles of the Edinburgh & Northern Railway, the branches whereof to Roscobie Lime Works and Kelty Coal Fields, for which an Act of Parliament has been obtained, pass along its boundaries on the south and east. It is bounded by the old Queensferry Road on the east, is intersected by the public road from Blairadam to Dunfermline on the north, and has also access to Dunfermline from the south by another good road, from which it is only about four miles distant.

[The property has current land rents of £464.16.6, and taxes of £23.14.9.]

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The Lassodie Coalfield

Two faults in the Lassodie area, the Fairfield fault and the 'Thirty Fathom Fault' combined to produce a cross ridge of rocks which split the Lassodie syncline into two small basins, one pitching north towards the village of Lassodie, the other southwards towards the shores of Loch Fitty.
It is known that up to 11 pits, of varying size, were sunk in the Lassodie coalfield and information relating to an individual pit will be found in separate CENTRAL FIFE INDEX entries.

One report stated that the Lassodie No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 Pits worked the southern basin closer to Loch Fitty while the other pits worked the northern basin, in and around Lassodie village. However, we respectfully suggest that this may not be so since geological survey information clearly puts the locations of the Lassodie Nos. 7, 8 Pits to the south of the Lassodie Nos. 2, 3 Pits.
Presently, no information is available concerning the Lassodie No. 5 Pit.

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Lassodie Colliery (19th century tabulated report) and
General Information on the Lassodie Coalfield

The coal seams of Lassodie were beyond the limit of the Dunfermline basin as defined on the north by the great Loch Fitty fault.
The Splint Coal having been worked under the loch, the position of the fault has been proved in the underground workings. The downthrow of this important dislocation is towards the south, but its amount is evidently gradually diminishing eastwards.
At Loch Fitty the fault shifts the crop of Splint Coal for a distance of half a mile further east on the north side. This crop must rise to the surface some 500 or 600 yards from the lower end of the loch. It then strikes north-west by Bentymires, then bends round in the direction of Braehead, so as to form the lip of another small basin of the Dunfermline coals. The whole district between Loch Fitty, Blairadam and the Kelty field has been extensively explored by bores as well as by pit-workings during the last thirty or forty years, and a large addition has thereby been made to the area of workable coal in Fife.

The ground has been found to be traversed, like the Dunfermline field, by a series of north-westerly faults with a downthrow sometimes to the one side, sometimes to the other, and likewise to be much troubled in some parts by igneous material, more especially along a strip between Braehead and Windyedge, where, even at the surface, abundant outcrops of dolerite may be seen. Nevertheless, some tracts of excellent coal have been found, more particularly the Dunfermline Splint and Five Feet seams.

The basin deepens eastwards, until only about a mile from the outcrop of the Splint Coal at Bentymires, that seam has gone down to 124 fathoms a little east of Lassodie Mains.

The table shown below gives a summary of the coal groups for the Lassodie field, and, knowing that some viewers also take an interest in the geological aspects, we have included some detailed notes of a 1930 survey after this table.
M. Martin & Webmasters.

Borings in the Lassodie field at Bentymires and east of Fairfield have proved that, although a number of coal seams lie between the Upper Kinniny Limestone and the Stink (Sulphur) Coal, none are at present of economic value. Traces of these thin coals and of the sandy strata among which they lie can be seen at the north shore of Loch Fitty on either side of the west boat-house. An ochre bed, said to have been mined, which outcrops 70 yards west of the boat-house, probably marks the position of the U. K. Limestone.

A bore on Thornton farm gives a sequence similar to that at Lassodie, and shows the Stink Coal to lie about 30 fathoms above the base of the Group. The parrot coal with ironstone 6½ fathoms above the limestone, seems to persist and may be used as an index.
The Stink Coal is generally sulphury and soft, and seldom exceeds 1 ft. 9 in. Its outcrop has been recognised on the north shore of Loch Fitty, about 120 yards east from the west boat-house, where it is overlain by a thick, fossil-containing bed of blaes.

North of the fault zone, the Stink Coal is cut in No. 4 Bore, Thornton, below the Whitehouse Wood sill at 33½ fathoms from the surface, and the following section is recorded:-

The Dunfermline Splint Coal is rather below average in thickness in the district, and is considerably affected by intrusive whinstone, particularly near Windyedge. It has been mined from numerous Lassodie pits and must now be approaching exhaustion. ... It is underlain by about 18 fathoms of whinstone which appears at the surface in Whitehouse Wood and on Thornton farm.

The Two Foot Coal has not been wrought in the district as it is generally rather thin. In the west of the Lassodie field it is separated from the Dunfermline Splint Coal by 5 to 8 fathoms of strata containing a thick bed of sandstone.
The Five Foot Coal seam is the best steam coal in the district, and as it is uniformly thick, it has been worked wherever it could be reached.

The position of the Pittencrieff Blackband Ironstone can be recognised in this district but it is nowhere of economic value. In the Lassodie area, it lies 5 fathoms above the Five Foot Coal, and there is never more than a few inches of ironstone associated with a thin coal.

The Mynheer Coal is, as a rule, a bright, hard, steam coal. It is somewhat thin at Lassodie, having its best development in the west in the small syncline around No. 6 Pit, where it reaches 3 ft. 3 in. No information has been obtained as to its condition in the Fairfield basin - it was of good quality, however, near the Nos. 10, 11 Pits.

The Glassee Coal is of fair quality and is usually a thick seam. At Lassodie, where a thick sandstone underlies it, the coal is farther from the Mynheer seam than is usual. Formerly it was not recognised as the Glassee Coal of Dunfermline, but received the name Eight Feet Coal and as such has been wrought from most pits of the colliery. From 5 to 6 fathoms above the Glassee Coal there is a persistent thin seam of coal and ironstone. Between this horizon and the next valuable seam of coal, a whinstone - 10 fathoms thick - has been intruded in the Lassodie basin; this may affect both the Glassee and the overlying coal.

There has been some doubt in the past as to the equivalents of the Lochgelly Splint and Parrot Coal seams in the Lassodie coalfield. At Lassodie, a seam named the 'Glassee Coal', but lying 28 fathoms above the true Glassee seam, is now considered to represent the Lochgelly Parrot of other districts.

The Upper Eight Foot of Lassodie, a composite seam lying 33 feet above the Lassodie Glassee, is undoubtedly the Lochgelly Splint Coal of Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly. The Upper Eight Foot (Lassodie) or Lochgelly Splint Coal lies some 3 to 4 fathoms above the Parrot and is a thick composite seam. In No. 1 Bore, Lassodie, the upper leaf is 3 ft. 10 in. and is of mixed quality, and the lower leaf, separated from the upper by 2 ft. 4 in. of soft black blaes, is 1 ft. 1 in.

In the southern part of the Lassodie Coalfield the Swallowdrum Coal has not been proved except in the east near Lochfitty No. 1 Pit. It is said to be a rough coal of good quality, with a sandy fake roof and sandstone pavement. In the northern half of the field, the coal averages 2 ft. 11 in., but may swell out to more than 5 ft. There is still a considerable acreage of this coal unworked in the Lassodie field.

The Jersey Coals are known at Lassodie as the Upper and Lower Cairncubie Coals. They lie about 40 ft. above the Swallowdrum Coal, and are separated from each other by 4 to 6 ft. of sandy strata. The Lower Jersey is almost everywhere soft and of poor quality.
The Upper Jersey Coal at Lassodie is a hard splint coal of very good quality, and is now nearly exhausted in the northern part of the field. Near the outcrop, to the north of Lassodie Mains, the seam is 3 ft. 5 in. thick, including a rib of stone near the base.

The top member of the Main Group at Lassodie is known as the Six Foot Coal, and lies from 2 to 4 fathoms above the Upper Jersey Coal. It is a light coal of fair quality, with a sandstone roof and hard pavement, and may suffer from crushing between the two.

The Kelty Blackband Ironstone is not of economic value at Lassodie, and is generally represented by a thin foul coal about 4 fathoms above the Kelty Main Coal.

The Rough Coal, lying at the base of the Blairhall Group, and locally named the Fourteen Foot Coal, is confined to two small basins within the district. In the south it is present at no great depth in the southward pitching syncline of Fairfield, and must outcrop along its western limb, near the eastern end of Loch Fitty. The seam has never been proved in this area, but it is likely that its development is similar to that at the north-east corner of the Kingseat field.
In the north its outcrop can be traced round the southern margin of the main Lassodie syncline. The seam is of poor quality and contains several yellow stone partings.

The higher coals in the Blairhall Group are not well known. In the main syncline, north and west of the No. 10 pit, a 2 ft. 3 in. coal lies 14 fathoms above the Rough Coal. It has a thick fireclay pavement and a coarse sandstone roof, and seems to correspond with the Lower Three Foot Coal of Killiebone. A foul coal, 2½ ft. thick, is found 14 fathoms higher in the sequence.

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"Dunfermline Journal"
1 June, 1860

On Saturday afternoon, a serious accident happened to a man named Paterson, a carter at Lassodie Colliery. Having loaded a truck with coal, he was taking out the drag, when, his foot slipping, his legs fell below the truck, which passed over them; inflicting injuries which compelled the amputation of one of the limbs.

[This report appeared earlier in "The Scotsman", Tuesday, 9 May, 1860]

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
9 June, 1860

We regret to state that the man named Paterson, who sustained severe injuries at Lassodie Colliery lately, by an accident with some waggons, died on Sunday night.

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"Dunfermline Monthly Advertiser"
January, 1862

On Wednesday evening, the workmen on Lassodie Colliery were entertained to a feast by their employer, T. Spowart Esq., of Broomhead House, in the school-room, which was well filled. The occasion of their rejoicing was their discovery of a seam of splint coal, which was known to exist but on which they have come sooner than was anticipated, besides which the coal has proved to be of a very superior quality. This discovery adds much to the mineral wealth of the district, and will increase the traffic on the West of Fife Mineral Railway. We are glad that the enterprising lessee of this new coal-field is so soon to reap such a good return for his outlay. A new village will speedily arise, and the bare fields of Lassodie swarm with life.

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"The Scotsman"
Saturday, 24 August, 1872
DUNFERMLINE - SERIOUS ACCIDENT

Last night, a lad named Alexander Houston, while engaged in a pit at Lassodie Colliery, near Dunfermline, was caught by a hutch while it was being let down an incline, and thereby sustained injuries of such a serious nature that he was not expected to live through the night.

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
31 August, 1872

On Friday last, a lad named Houston was so severely bruised and cut by coming into contact with a train of coal hutches in their descent down a wheel brae in one of the pits here that he died the following day. His mother is a widow, and much sympathy is felt for her, the boy being her main support. Mrs Houston has been twice married and has lost both husbands by pit accidents.

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
7 June, 1873

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
15 November, 1873

In terms of an agreement between Lassodie Colliery Co., and the Telegraph Department of the Post-Office, a private telegraph has just been erected connecting Lassodie Colliery Office with the Post Office at Dunfermline. This will give greatly increased facilities for conducting the business of the colliery; and being the first private wire erected in the district, says a good deal for the enterprise of the Lassodie Colliery Co.

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
10 January, 1880
MINE ENGINEERING AND APPLIED MECHANICS' COURSES

We are pleased to notice that the above classes are still in a satisfactory state of progress. We learn that another student attending them, (David Beveridge, Kelty Colliery) has been successful in obtaining a certificate of competency as a manger (under the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1872). He is the third candidate that has been successful from the class taught by Mr. Robert Andrew at Lassodie, and it is certainly very creditable to the teacher to find them so successful.

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
30 June, 1888

A distressing coal pit accident occurred in one of the pits belonging to Thomas Spowart & Co. (Limited), at Lassodie, on Thursday morning. While James Wood (48) and his son were working at one of the seams the facing suddenly gave way, and a large quantity of coal fell upon the father. On being extricated it was found that both his legs were broken, and it was found necessary to send him to the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. The injuries received by the son were, happily, not of a serious nature.

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"The Scotsman"
24 November, 1888

DEATH OF MR THOMAS SPOWART COALOWNER. - Mr Thomas Spowart, coalowner, died yesterday at his residence, Broomhead House, near Dunfermline. The deceased gentleman. who was in his 61st year, was well known in mining circles throughout Scotland, having been identified with colliery business during the last forty years. While a youth he was apprenticed as a civil engineer to Messrs Bald & Geddes, Edinburgh, but on the death of his father he assumed the management of Wellwood Colliery, Dunfermline. Later on he acquired Elgin Colliery, which adjoined his own, and for many years conducted a successful and extensive business. He also sank pits at Lassodie. Mr Spowart was one of the promoters of the Linlithgow Oil Company, and was appointed its chairman. He was also president of the Scottish Mineral Oil Association.

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
26 September, 1891
MINE VENTILATION IN FIFE

Complaints of bad ventilation are at the present time rather numerous. In the Lassodie Colliery it appears that in one of the sections of the pit the system to be enforced to assist the air is to not allow the miners to fire their shots unless within a short time of the finish of the working shift. Some few of the men have disregarded this instruction, with the result that they are threatened with punishment.
In fairness it might be stated that it is not at all times an easy matter to ventilate some portions of a pit, especially if a large waste has to be contended with. Still, it would be an easy matter in many of the Fife pits to improve the air which miners have to work among.

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
25 November, 1893

Mr Andrew, manager, Lassodie Colliery, who has acted in that capacity for 23 years, is now retiring, and on Saturday evening, in name of the workmen employed at the colliery and a few friends, he was presented with a purse and sovereigns and a silver-mounted walking stick for himself, and a hand-bag for Mrs Andrew. Mr Thomson made the presentation.

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
14 December, 1895

On the occasion of his leaving the colliery, Mr James Sharp, oversman, has been presented with a silver watch, and Mrs Sharp with a hand-bag.

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
11 July, 1896

While William Robertson, labourer, Halbeath, was engaged braking waggons under a screen at one of the Lassodie pits on Tuesday, he got caught between a waggon and an upright post, with the result that his right collar bone was displaced. He was attended to by Dr Morris, Dunfermline.

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
11 July, 1896

This issue a carried the announcement that Lassodie oversman, Mr James Kelloch, was leaving to fill a similar position with the Rosewell Gas Coal Company at Lassodie Mill Colliery just to the east of Lassodie.

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"Dunfermline Saturday Press"
15 August, 1896

James Gloag (35), supposed to belong to Dundee, died suddenly here yesterday morning. Drs Drysdale and Tuke, Dunfermline, who examined the body, certified that death was due to natural causes. Deceased had been employed filling coals at one of the Lassodie pits.

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"Dunfermline Press"
30 April, 1898

Mr S. McFedries, oversman, Lassodie Colliery, was leaving to fill a similar situation in Lochgelly.

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"Dunfermline Press"
14 January, 1899

The friends of Mr Robert Peggie will be pleased to learn that he has been successful in gaining a first-class certificate at the recent examination held in Glasgow. Mr Peggie has been coached by Mr John Clark, colliery manager, Rosebank.

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"Dunfermline Press"
7 July, 1900

Mr James Brown, oversman, Lassodie Colliery, has been successful in obtaining a first-class certificate of competency as mine manager at the recent examination held in Edinburgh. Mr Brown was ably assisted in his preparatory studies by Mr David Archibald, manager of the colliery.

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"Dunfermline Press"
18 June, 1904

A social meeting of the students and friends of the mining class was held on Saturday evening in the Public Hall, when twenty-two sat down to supper, presided over by Mr Archibald, manager. In the course of the evening the Chairman, on behalf of the students, presented Mr Strain, oversman, their teacher, with a handsome clinometer. He complimented Mr Strain on the success of his students at the recent examination for mine managers' certificates held in Edinburgh. Four students went forward for examination, and they were all successful in gaining second class certificates. Their names are as follows:- James Lowe, John Fleming, and George Marshall, Lassodie; and James Smith, Kelty. Mr Strain thanked the students for their useful scientific instrument. He felt amply rewarded in the success of the students, and trusted they would now keep the footing they had gained on the ladder of life, and go upwards and onwards until they had obtained first class certificates. Mr John Fleming narrated how the class originated, and said that it reflected great credit on their teacher for his unselfish work in taking the time and trouble of helping others. It was a labour of love, done without money and without price. ...

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"Dunfermline Press"
18 June, 1904

This issue carried the news that the Lassodie 'A' team which won the Miners' Ambulance Competition with a total of 85 points consisted of Alexander Malcolm, captain; Archibald Wylie, James Ramsay, Walter Erskine, and Robert Leonard. The team's instructor was Dr Tuke, Dunfermline.

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"Dunfermline Press"
7 January, 1905
LASSODIE - MINING

The friends of Mr William Strain, colliery oversman, Lassodie, will be pleased to learn that he has been successful in gaining a first-class certificate at the examination recently held in Glasgow. Mr Strain is a student of the Fife Mining Class.

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"Dunfermline Press"
4 May, 1907
LASSODIE - COAL MINING

Mr Strain, the highly esteemed manager; Mr John Fleming and Mr Alexander Shepherd, oversmen, were visited in their new sphere of labour at Hill of Beath by a number of their former fellow workmen from Lassodie Colliery, who were shown over the Fife Coal Company's Dalbeath Pits. the pumping, winding, screening, hauling, and coal-cutting plant were all minutely inspected by the visitors, who manifested great interest in everything they saw. After their tour of inspection had been completed, they were entertained to tea, kindly provided by Mr and Mrs Shepherd, no effort being spared on the part of the latter to make the visit a pleasant one. The party were highly delighted with their afternoon's outing.

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"Dunfermline Press"
3 August, 1907

James Stewart, a pithead worker employed by the Lassodie Coal Coy., and residing in Townhill, met with an accident at Lassodie Colliery on Wednesday. He was conveyed to the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital, when it was found that he had received a compound fracture of the leg.

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"Dunfermline Press"
7 September, 1907

Andrew Malcolm, a young lad working in one of the Lassodie pits, was admitted to the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital on Monday suffering from injuries sustained while engaged at his employment earlier in the day. One of his legs was fractured, and he was bruised about the body.

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"Dunfermline Press"
11 January, 1908
LASSODIE - MINING

The friends of Mr Wm. Wilkinson will be pleased to learn that he has been successful in gaining a first-class certificate at the examination recently held in Glasgow. Mr Wilkinson began the study of mining under Mr Masterton, of Cross Roads School, Methil, through whose tuition he was successful in gaining a second-class certificate some years ago. Of late, he has been a student of the Fife Mining School, and he has also obtained some valuable practical information at the hands of Mr Archibald, manager of the colliery.
Mr Wilkinson has held the position of oversman in various collieries, both in Fife and the Lothians, and those who are in a position to judge of his capabilities feel quite confident that he will yet distinguish himself in the mining industry.

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"Dunfermline Press"
11 April, 1908

... Mr William Wilkinson, Lassodie, appointed manager of Elgin and Wellwood Colliery. Mr Wilkinson succeeded Mr Strain (now at Dalbeath) as oversman at Nos. 10 and 11 Pits, in which position he has won the confidence and respect of both employer and employed. Output at Lassodie was now at 600 tons per day.

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"Dunfermline Press"
5 June, 1909
A COALOWNER'S JUBILEE
INTERESTING CELEBRATIONS AT LASSODIE

A unique event took place at Lassodie on Saturday, Mr John Brownlie, coalowner, being presented with a illuminated address and silver salver from the employees of Lassodie, Elgin and Wellwood Collieries in recognition of his fifty years connection with the firm of Messrs Thomas Spowart & Company Limited. ...
Mr Brownlie came to Lassodie in March 1860, and he (the Chairman) understood that that was the first month that coals were drawn from the pit. At that time a local man who posed as an authority on coal mining declared that all the coal that would be extracted from Lassodie would be so worthless that the labour of digging it would be like ploughing the sands. The late Mr Spowart and Mr Brownlie though otherwise. ...

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"Dunfermline Press"
18 December, 1909

This issue carried the announcement of the death of Mr John Brownlie, Greenbank, Lassodie, on Monday evening. Mr Brownlie was one of the oldest coalmasters in Fife, if not in Scotland.

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"Dunfermline Press"
1 January, 1910

Mr Wm. Hunter, who had been a residenter in the village almost since the time when the population began to settle down there, died with startling suddenness on Monday evening. Deceased was employed as pit inspector or fireman with Messrs Thomas Spowart & Company, Limited. Being engaged on the night shift, he proceeded to the pit at about ten o'clock in the evening. While waiting on the back-shift squad ascending the shaft, Mr Hunter was suddenly seized with illness, and he passed away while being conveyed by his comrades to his dwelling-house in New Rows. Deceased was 69 years of age. A native of Wellwood, he went to work in the pits at the age of ten years. Forty-seven years ago he took up residence at Lassodie, three years after Lassodie Colliery had been started. Musically inclined, the deceased was for many years leading cornet player in the village brass band, and he frequently led the psalmody in the United Free Church.

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"Dunfermline Press"
1 July, 1911

On Wednesday morning, David Jack, miner, Main Street, Townhill, while working in one of the Lassodie Pits, had his leg broken below the knee by a quantity of coal falling upon him.

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"Cowdenbeath & Lochgelly Times"
14 August, 1912

Early on Friday morning William Guthrie, miner, Kelty, met with serious internal injuries in a pit belonging to Messrs Thomas Spowart and Co., Ltd., at Lassodie. The man was conveyed to the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital, where he lies in a critical condition.

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"The Scotsman"
Thursday, 29 August, 1912
FATAL ACCIDENT IN FIFE

The death took place yesterday morning of Thomas Drummond, New Rows, Lassodie, who had been employed as an attendant at a coal washer at Messrs Thos. Spowart & Co.'s Lassodie Colliery. Drummond had been near machinery, by which part of his clothing was caught, and he was dragged round the shafting. His neck and spine were injured, and several of his ribs were fractured.

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"Dunfermline Press"
7 September, 1912

Under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry Act, an inquiry was held in the Sheriff Court, Dunfermline, on Thursday - before Sheriff Umpherston and a Jury - into the circumstances attending the death of Thomas Drummond, coal washer attendant, New Rows, Lassodie, who was fatally injured at Lassodie Colliery on 26 August through being drawn round a revolving shaft. Those giving evidence included:- David Archibald, manager; Henry McTrusty, labourer, Fairfield, Lassodie; William Love, labourer, New Rows, Lassodie; and George Drummond, miner, Kelty, a son of deceased. A formal verdict was returned.

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"Dunfermline Press"
25 January, 1913
PRESENTATION TO COLLIERY MANAGER.

A combined social was held in the Public Hall, Lassodie, on Saturday, the company including the colliery underground firemen's class and the two rescue fire brigades. Mr Andrew Steedman, under-manager of Nos. 10 and 11 Pits occupied the chair.
Mr William Wallace, on behalf of the firemen's class, presented Mr Archibald, manager, with a set of gold sleeve links and studs. They had all derived a good deal of useful knowledge from the teaching imparted to them by their manager, making them all feel better equipped to perform their duties. Mr Archibald in reply thanked Mr Wallace and the class for their useful and tangible token of their gratitude for the service he had rendered.
Mr Brownlie, J.P., presented the badges and certificates granted by the Fife and Clackmannanshire Coalmasters' Association to all members of rescue brigades that have become competent. Two brigades had qualified at Lassodie, and members had been trained and qualified at the Cowdenbeath Rescue Station. The names of the teams are:- Andrew Steedman (leader), David Stewart, Alex. Hunter, Alex. Malcolm, and John Ryan; Wm. Wallace (leader), John Reid, John Todd, James Ramsay, jun., and David Steedman.
The Chairman, on behalf of the brigades, thanked Mr Brownlie and the Fife and Clackmannan Coalmasters' Association for the handsome badges.

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"Dunfermline Press"
31 May, 1913

Mr William Fulton, dispatch clerk at Lassodie Colliery for the last 5½ years, left to take up an appointment as manager of the Pathhead and Sinclairtown Co-operative Society's coal depot.

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"Dunfermline Press"
12 August, 1916

While at work in Lassodie Pit, George Pratt, jun., residing at Chipperkyle, Oakfield, had his arm broken in two places through being caught in a wheel.

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"Dunfermline Press"
21 September, 1918

Mr James Wilson, who has been under-manager in Lethans No. 1 Pit for the last three years, was honoured on the occasion of his leaving to take up a similar position in Lassodie Colliery. ...

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"Dunfermline Press"
12 February, 1921

The death of Mr James Stronach, retired joiner, on Saturday last, at the ripe old age of 86 years, has removed the oldest inhabitant of the village, and one of the first workers at the colliery. ... At the time when the late Mr John Brownlie's jubilee was celebrated in 1909, Mr Stronach was presented by the Colliery Company with a gold medal:- "In recognition of fifty years' faithful service at Lassodie Colliery." ...

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"Dunfermline Press"
2 July, 1921

... At Lassodie, the officials have been able to cope satisfactorily with the water, so that there too the men will all be reinstated forthwith. ...

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"Dunfermline Press"
18 May, 1929

A representative gathering of the people of the village [Lassodie] was held in the Welfare Institute Hall on Saturday, to do honour to Mr David Archibald on the occasion of his retirement as colliery manager at Lassodie Colliery after thirty-one years' service. ...

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"Dunfermline Press"
2 May, 1931
LASSODIE COLLIERY CLOSED.
THREE HUNDRED MEN AFFECTED.

Further indications of the depression in the Fife coal industry were furnished on Thursday when Lassodie Colliery belonging to Messrs Thomas Spowart & Company, Limited, was closed down.
Over 300 men were employed at the colliery, and the fourteen days' notice which they had received terminating their employment expired on that date.
It is understood that this drastic step had been taken partly because of the difficulty of disposing of the accumulation of water which threatens to flood the underground workings.
That the closure of the pit is to be of a permanent nature is indicated by the fact that a number of men have been retained for dismantling operations at the pithead and in the underground workings.
Notices have been posted at the colliery to the effect that the Company's dwelling-houses in the village have to be vacated in fourteen days.
Lassodie Colliery, which is one of the oldest collieries in the county, has been in existence for over seventy years. Practically the whole of the adult male population of the village was employed at the colliery, and many of the old residents had worked there since boyhood.

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"Dunfermline Press"
9 May, 1931
CLOSING OF LASSODIE COLLIERY.
HISTORY OF THE COLLIERY.

Messrs Thomas Spowart & Company, Ltd., took a lease of the minerals of Lassodie in 18 60. From that year until 1887, Lassodie was worked as a separate concern. In 1887, a private limited liability company was formed among the partners of Lassodie and Elgin and Wellwood collieries, and from that date the combined collieries were carried on under the name of Thomas Spowart & Company, Ltd.
At an early stage of the development of the Lassodie minerals, the late Mr John Brownlie, father of Mr H. M. Brownlie (Chairman of the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital Committee), took over the management. Under his supervision great developments took place, and in later years the adjoining coal field of Thornton was also worked from the Lassodie shafts.
Several hundreds of men were employed, and within a comparatively short time the village of Lassodie was brought into being, a school and church being erected in course of time.
At Lassodie the late Mr John Brownlie, who was a member of the old Beath School Board, did excellent work in connection with educational matters, and took a prominent place in the promotion of schemes which had in view the moral and material welfare of his employees, their wives, and families.
Mr H. M. Brownlie, who succeeded his father in the management of the colliery, has all along manifested a live interest in the welfare of the villagers of Lassodie.

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"Dunfermline Press"
16 March, 1940
DEATH OF MR DAVID ARCHIBALD.
FORMER MANAGER OF LASSODIE COLLIERY.

The death took place at Hawthorn Villa, Loanhead, on Sunday, of Mr David Archibald, who, at the time of his retirement ten years ago, had been manager at the Lassodie Colliery of Thomas Spowart & Co., Ltd.
Mt Archibald, who was 76 years of age, was an expert in mine management. During his long residence at Lassodie, he concerned himself with everything connected with the promotion of the welfare of the villagers.
At Loanhead he took an active interest in all local affairs. He was chairman of Loanhead Unionist Association, and on several occasions president of Loanhead Bowling Club. ...

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"Dunfermline Press"
9 August, 1941
DEATH OF MR H. M. BROWNLIE

Early yesterday morning, Mr Henry Morrison Brownlie passed away in a Dunfermline nursing home, where he had been a patient for the last five months.
A son of the late Mr John Brownlie, Lassodie, Mr H. M. Brownlie was trained in the legal profession. Most of his life-time, however, had been spent in the coal industry.
Succeeding his father as a director of Thomas Spowart & Company., Ltd., Lassodie, Elgin and Wellwood Collieries, he also took his father's place as general manager of the Lassodie Colliery of the Company. On the exhaustion of the coal seams at Lassodie some years ago, Mr Brownlie retired and took up residence in Edinburgh. ... Mr Brownlie was 76 years of age and was unmarried.

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"Dunfermline Press"
28 September, 1946
COLLIERY OFFICIAL'S DEATH.
MR SAMUEL McFEDRIES.

The death has taken place at Wallyford of Mr Samuel McFedries, retired underground colliery manager. He was the only son of Mr Wm. McFedries, who was for some years manager at the Wellwood Colliery of Messrs Thomas Spowart & Company, Ltd. Following the occupation of his father, he was an oversman at Lassodie Colliery, and was for some years occupied in the same capacity in the pits at Cowdenbeath before going to Wallyford over forty years ago. ... Deceased was seventy-seven years of age.

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Open Cast Workings

Coals classed in earlier years, in this coalfield, as "uneconomic" propositions were eventually extracted from the ground by opencast mining techniques.
In April, 1947, the year of nationalisation, Fairfield Opencast, Lassodie, commenced coal extraction. By September, 1950, the Parley Opencast Site, Lassodie, had started its operations and within two years, more opencast sites were underway at the Greenbank, south-east of Lassodie, and Loch Fitty sites. An extensive area to the north and north-east of Bentymires continues to be worked opencast at the present time, February 2003.

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"Dunfermline Press"
22 February, 1947
OPEN-CAST COAL.
Development at Lassodie.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Fuel and Power confirmed that open-cast working of coal is to be developed at Fairfield, Lassodie. Drilling operations have revealed a field of outcrop coal extending over a considerable area, and it is estimated that between five and six hundred thousand tons of coal will be mined by open-cast methods within the next three years.
It is stated that due to the extensive use of machinery in the operations, considerably less than one hundred men will be employed.

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When Lassodie fields were first worked by open-cast, the Lassodie School became an office block for the contractors; the washery plant occupied the Lassodie No. 10 pit site; and, the repair yard was located on the Lassodie No. 4 pit site.

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"Dunfermline Press"
17 January, 1948
OPEN-CAST WORKINGS.
Serious Flooding at Lassodie.

On Monday, following heavy rainfall, several million gallons of water flooded an area of the extensive open-cast coal workings, operated at Lassodie by Messrs Whatlings, Ltd., contractors, Glasgow and London, on behalf of the Ministry of Fuel and Power.
The area affected was three hundred yards long by forty feet wide, and the water was lying to a depth of fifteen feet. Two pumps from Dunfermline N. F. S. were called into commission, and with their pumping capacity of about 500 gallons per minute, it was estimated that they would be in operation for several days before the area was cleared.
Anticipating a certain amount of flooding, which would interfere with normal working, the contractors had removed all machinery from the area, and this, together with workmen, was transferred to another section of the workings.

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"Dunfermline Press"
21 February, 1948
OPEN-CAST COAL WORKINGS.
Blairenbathie Output.

In relation to the criticism by the Dunfermline branch of the National Farmers' Union of open-cast coal workings, published last week, it is interesting to record the output of coal expected from the open-cast coal workings at Fairfield and Blairenbathie, both units of which work conjointly. The workings at Blairenbathie, which are situated near Kelty, to the north of the Gask Road, were commenced only two months ago, and are capable of producing about 2000 tons of coal per week.
Fairfield, at Lassodie, and Blairenbathie are expected by the National Coal Board to produce approximately 250,000 tons of coal jointly until they are exhausted. They are worked alternate weeks, according to the situation at each.

MINING RECORD

On Wednesday of last week, a record output for a day's working was won from Fairfield, when 1661 tons of coal were wrought. The weekly output for a five and a half days' week at this site exceeds 7000 tons, giving an average of approximately over 1200 tons.
About 200 men are employed at Fairfield and Blairenbathie. The 300 tons drag-line at Fairfield, which has been responsible for so great an output, is at present being overhauled, but substitute machinery is being employed until the drag-line is operable again.

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"Dunfermline Press"
9 October, 1948
OPEN-CAST MINING
The Lassodie Operations

At the fortnightly meeting of Cowdenbeath Rotary Club, some interesting sidelights on open-cast coal production and comparisons with deep mining methods were given by Mr. J. R. McGibbon, BSc, A.M.I.C.E., manager of the Eastern Division of Messrs Watlings, Ltd., who are responsible for the scheme at present in operation at Lassodie. Mr. Alex. Westwater, president, presided.
Mr. McGibbon said that open-cast coal, although only initiated in this country in 1941 as a war-time emergency, had been in operation in America for approximately forty years. As the land had to be returned to the farmer in a state capable of producing crops, the removal of the top soil was a very important factor. This was stored in bings and replaced after the completion of the work. The removal of the overburden was the main part of the work, and this had to be executed efficiently to make any coalfield a successful enterprise.
Illustrating the big improvements which had been made in the excavating plant, Mr. McGibbon said that, with the latest Dragline excavators at Lassodie, they moved on an average 40,000 cubic yards per week. That figure had risen as high as 70,000 cubic yards in one week, and that was equal to 100,000 tons.
With a total personnel of 130 (including clerks), they produced an average of 7000 tons of coal per week, with a maximum of 11,000 tons. So far as quality was concerned, he maintained that this compared favourably with deep mining, and he knew certain buyers, once they got to know open-cast, had asked specifically for it.
Since moving into the Lassodie site on 28th March of this year, the total output to date was approximately 420,000 tons. He expressed the opinion that open-cast coal was cheaper because the personnel, being more highly technical, the output per man was greater.

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An old seam abandonment plan shows that the workings in 1948 formed a dog-leg from just east of Lassodie House, down to the north shore of Loch Fitty, then turning to the east between the shore and Fairfield.
Another small area was worked at the roadside, halfway between Fairfield and Windyedge.
The main seam extracted was the Lochgelly Splint and the overburden was probably removed by the giant excavator known as 'Mona' after it had completed the Cocklaw excavation, to the north-east of Lassodie.

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"The Scotsman"
11 November, 1949

Anderson Martin (16), stepson of James McMenemy, labourer, Loch Fitty Crossing Cottage, Lassodie, near Dunfermline, was fatally injured when he was caught in the machinery of an excavator at the opencast coal workings at Lassodie yesterday.

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"Dunfermline Press"
12 November, 1949
YOUTH'S TRAGIC DEATH
Lassodie Accident

A 16-year-old youth, Anderson Martin, nipper, step-son of James McMenemy, labourer, Lochgelly Fitty Crossing Cottage, Lassodie, met with his death under tragic circumstances on Thursday afternoon. While employed at the open-cast coal workings at Lassodie, Martin was caught up with the machinery of an excavator. Death was instantaneous.

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"Dunfermline Press"
26 August, 1950
Progress at Lassodie Open-Cast Coal Site
910,000 TONS PRODUCED
Mr Clunie Impressed by Results

A special invitation to visit the Lassodie open-cast coal workings and obtain, at first hand, a practical insight into the operations was accepted by Mr James Clunie, M.P. for Dunfermline Burghs, on Tuesday, when he was conducted round by Mr E. B. Nisbet, representative of the Ministry of Fuel and Power, from Cowdenbeath.
Afterwards, Mr Clunie, who was accompanied by a Dunfermline Press representative, expressed the view that the workings were fully justified.
Mr Clunie, who was met by Mr Nisbet on his arrival, first inspected the screening plant and saw, at ground level, where lorry loads of the newly extracted coal are dumped into the "boot" - a large tank equipped with a grid.
The coal is then transported by conveyor belt into the actual plant itself, a complicated system of machinery and subsidiary belts. Right at the start of its journey it is taken in hand by the Niagara screen which grades it according to size - large coal (over 4 ins), nuts (1¾ ins - 4 ins), and below that, fragmentary coal and dross.

BLAE USED FOR BRICKS

The dross is eventually ejected below and ultimately finds its way to the great washeries at Denbeath, Methil. The larger grades continue by belt and come under careful scrutiny by two squads of young women, ten in each, who deftly weed out the stone and "foreign" elements and toss them down shutes. The coal then proceeds to the boom loader and waiting empty railway trucks.
A direct and valuable contribution to the housing problem is being made by Lassodie, for its blae is being used at Blairadam brickworks in the production of bricks. The blae, which is hardened clay of a chalky consistency, is being transported to Blairadam at the rate of about 50 tons a day.
Escorting Mr Clunie at this stage was Mr John Murray, foreman under Messrs Whatlings, Ltd., the Glasgow contractors under commission at Lassodie from the Ministry of Fuel and Power. Mr Murray, who resides at 72 Bruce Street, Dunfermline, is in charge of the plant. Formerly with the railway, Mr Murray was a Government railway employee in the Gold Coast for nine months, just prior to the war, returning home on account of an accident.
During the development at Comrie Colliery, he was engaged on the installation of the railway system, later becoming foreman in charge of railways at the Aitken Colliery, Kelty, when modernisation works were carried out there.

THE SAMPLING TEST

Each newly loaded truck is subjected to a sampling test before it leaves Lassodie, known as the float-and-sink test. Four men, under the supervision of Mr David Duff, Lochgelly, Grade I sampler with the Ministry, undertake this duty, and, if the coal sample is rejected for quality, the wagon-load is returned to the screening plant.
From the screening plant, Mr Clunie accompanied Mr Nisbet to the Fairfield workings, passing on the way the scattered surviving houses of Lassodie village, with the substantial stone-built school now functioning as offices. A notable feature of this region of machine-riven country and man-made mountains is the network of strategic concrete and tarmac roads which facilitate the passage of the huge 10-wheeled transport lorries.
Pausing on the edge of one yawning chasm, with a mechanical face-shovel resting on the bottom dwarfed almost to insignificance by towering walls of exposed strata, Mr Clunie raised a question about the disposal of the piled-up debris after the coal had been extracted.
Mr Nisbet told him that the rock and stone were tumbled back into the rift to be succeeded by a blanket of 3-feet of stone-free material. Completing the restoration was a 12-18 in. surface of the top soil which is carefully removed before operations begin. This work was supervised by the Department of Agriculture.

WHEN FLOODING OCCURS

Mr Nisbet also explained in answer to another question, that when flooding of the workings took place the water was dispelled by pumping. If the accumulation was too great, or the weather unpropitious, work was suspended altogether.
Farther on, Mr Clunie made his way to the bottom of a sister working, the farther wall of which exposed an 80-feet geological cross-section. Here, the coal was in three stratas. The top-most Kelty main seam and middle upper Jersey seam had been removed and work was now proceeding on the lower Jersey seam. Mr Clunie learned that mechanical vertical drills were used to bore holes behind the face, which was then brought down with charges.
As the distance by road from these operational zones to the screening plant was considerable, The Dunfermline Press representative inquired if a light railway had not been judged suitable for the transportation of the coal. Mr Nisbet said that experience had proved the lorries to be more flexible for the job and better for negotiating slopes. He added that it was estimated the Fairfield zone would be worked out by October or November this year.

PASTURE ON RESTORED FIELDS

A visit was next paid to Cocklaw Mains Farm. on the Kelty-Dunfermline highway, to inspect fields which had been restored after the coal excavation had been completed. A concrete road led gently up from the valley, and, from the top, a splendid panoramic view was had of the whole immense hive of industry dominated by its grotesque mountains of waste.
The fields of Cocklaw Mains presented a brave front of green pasture and showed but few signs of their comparatively recent upheaval. The farmer, Mr A MacKenzie, was absent, but later, over the telephone, he told a reporter that the restoration had been carried out more satisfactorily than he had hoped. One field, which exhibited a lush crop, had only been sown with grass this Spring; the others were sown last year. He thought, however, that years of manuring might be needed to restore the ground to its original fertility.

THREE YEARS' OUTPUT

The following statistics were given by Mr Nisbet concerning the Lassodie workings. The undertaking was begun in March 1947. During the subsequent years, a total production of 910,000 tons of open-cast coal had been achieved.
At present, due to the exhaustion of Fairfield, the daily output was about 600 tons, but, within a few months, it was hoped to double this through fresh operations at the adjacent Parley site, where preparatory work was now being undertaken, and at Greenbank. Messrs Whatlings employed 180 workers, including the 20 women pickers.
At the conclusion of the tour of inspection, Mr Clunie described the two aspects that had impressed him most. He said he thought, from his observations of the care taken in cleaning the coal, that the finished product was good and satisfactory, and that this method of supplementing normal mining methods was not only helpful but fully justified. He considered further, that the restoration of the old workings had been extraordinarily successful.
Mr Clunie added that he would like to express publicly his indebtedness to the officials for the way they had received him and for the information that had been provided.

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"Dunfermline Press"
27 October, 1951
KINGSEAT MAN INJURED

Arthur Lymer (50), Henderson Street, Kingseat, was injured at the open-cast coal site near Kingseat on Wednesday, when his arm was caught in the screening plant. He was removed to Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital.

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"Dunfermline Press"
22 March, 1952
'Mighty Mona' Is Leaving Lassodie
Giant Excavator that Changed Countryside

Lassodie, the once thriving mining village, which in recent years has been given over to large-scale open-cast coal operations, is to lose the giant mechanical digger which has been excavating soil and earth lying on top of the coal at the rate of 40,000 tons a week.
"Mighty Mona," as the machine has been christened, is being dismantled and will be transported in 25 loads to an open-cast site at Lumley, Chester-le-Street, County Durham.
"Mona" has played its part in transforming the ground around the few surviving landmarks of the village into a torn and scarred countryside.
But "Mona," a giant though she may be at Lassodie, is among some of the "also rans" in comparison with the huge excavators in other parts of the country. If she comes up against the 1650 tons colossus which is in England, she will be completely dwarfed for "Mona" is a mere 360 tons in weight, operated by a 240 h.p. Diesel engine.

Eight Tons at a "Mouthful"

At one time after coming to Lassodie four years ago, she was working 21 hours a day. She is 50 feet high, 45 feet long, 30 feet wide, and from her jib which reaches out 150 feet, a five ton drag-line bucket can lift 8½ tons at one "mouthful." Normally she has four attendants - driver, greaser, engineer and banksman.
Now 10 men are working a 12 hours day to dismantle her, a job which will take a further three weeks approximately.
When she goes to England several modifications will be effected, and more electrical equipment will be added. The work of re-assembling will take about 12 weeks.

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"Dunfermline Press"
16 August, 1952
Former Open Cast Site
Restoring Land at Lassodie

Restoration of farmland at Fairfield, Lassodie, where open-cast coal excavations have been in operation for several years is now well in hand, and the results so far give hope that early misgivings entertained by the farming community will not be realised.
In 1948, the land, which belongs to the Department of Agriculture, was requisitioned for open cast workings, in view of the national coal emergency, and coal was extracted until last year. ...

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"Cowdenbeath Advertiser"
31 August, 1956

A well known local man, William Mackie (31), Arcon Place, Cowdenbeath, was killed when a bulldozer overturned and crushed him at Lassodie opencast site. A keen accordionist, Mr Mackie was engaged on reclaiming work when the bulldozer toppled on the edge of a 12 feet pile of soft soil. Mr Mackie was pinned underneath the machine and despite the efforts of colleagues who worked strenuously to extricate him, he died a few minutes after being released.

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The site being extracted in 2003, St Ninians, is part of a larger project, Greenbank, which was refused planning permission. The original Greenbank Project extended from beyond the old No. 6 Pit, in the west; to the M90 motorway in the east; Thornton Wood in the north to Loch Fitty in the south, and meant that the old Lassodie village would at last be buried.
The St Ninians site seems to encompass the western half of the original Greenbank project. Needless to say, we understand that the Company has requested an extension to the St Ninians site which, surprise, surprise, just happens to be the rest of the Greenbank site!
Work is continuing at the time of this entry update (February 2010).