Lead mining in Scotland

Lead ore has been mined and refined in Scotland for centuries, primarily in the form of galena. It was a versatile material used for roofing material high-status buildings, fabricating the pipework of Linlithgow Palace fountain, glazing windows, and producing alloys such as pewter and latten. Lead was a valuable commodity, with rights reserved to the crown, and was exported abroad. Major centres of lead mining included Leadhills in South Lanarkshire and nearby, Wanlockhead in Dumfries and Galloway; Beinn Chùirn near Tyndrum; Strontian; Minnigaff near Newton Stewart; Woodhead at Carsphairn; and Islay. Abandoned workings include buddle pits which were used to separate heavy lead ores. Notable examples of Scotland's industrial heritage include the Wanlockhead beam engine.

History of lead mining in Scotland

Early references to mining are sparse. The earliest archival evidence relates to mining at Leadhills and Wanlockhead area at Glengonnar Water and at the "Frier Muir" in a 1239 charter of Newbattle Abbey. These and other mines are mentioned as landmarks in subsequent charters in Crawford or Crawfurdmure Parish at Crawfordjohn, and this Lanarkshire mining area, where lead, gold, and silver were found, was generally known as Crawfurdmure. Patrick, Abbot of Newbattle, defended the rights of his house to the lead from the area after Lord Hamilton obtained a substantial quantity of lead ore in 1466. Early references to Scottish silver may indicate metal obtained from lead ore. There is documentation of lead in use, and plumbers serving the royal court.

James IV James IV of Scotland encouraged lead mining. He employed a specialist, a "fineur" or refiner, Andrew Ireland, to process lead ore. He employed miners at Wanlockhead, directed by a priest "schir" James Pettigrew. William Striveling managed a mine on Islay. The lead from Islay was shipped to Dumbarton, and possibly refined there before it was carted to Edinburgh. At the end of February 1512, when James IV was at Newhaven trialling his new ship, the Great Michael, he gave 5 shillings as a reward or drinksilver to a man who brought some lead. Beyond the potential revenue and the use of lead in his projects, James IV was interesting in metallurgy for his gun founding, and in alchemy, through which he hoped to find a universal cure known as the "quinta essentia".

Robert Murray Robert Murray was the Master Plumber to James V of Scotland. He worked on gutters and roofing and maintained the fountain at Linlithgow Palace in the summer of 1543 for Mary, Queen of Scots. The records do not specify where the lead he used came from (and much was recycled). Some of the lead used at Falkland Palace, where Robert Murray worked on another fountain, was shipped from Hull. On two occasions the supplies of lead earmarked for his work were stolen. James V sent prospectors to look for gold in the lead mining areas, with some success. The barony of Crawfordjohn came into James's hands in 1536, and he licensed Ninian Crichton of Bellibocht (at Glencairn) to work lead mines at Crawfordmure or Sanquhar, a possible source of lead for the Linlithgow pipework. Crichton's charter allowed him to employ English miners. He was a courtier and associated with the affairs of Robert Crichton, Lord Sanquhar. John Carmichael of Meadowflat was Captain of Crawfordmure, and there was a residence at Crawfordjohn Castle, frequently visited by James V and at least once by his wife Mary of Guise.

Lead and the Scottish crown Lead extraction continued at Crawfurdmure, where a cleric "sir" Charles Forrest looked after two French refiners in 1553 during the rule of Regent Arran. These workers moved to "Mure Madzeane" where their expenses were paid by David Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh, father of James Hamilton the assassin.

Profits from gold mines and silver mines in Scotland were understood to belong to the crown, and a proportionate tax was levied. Lead was not used for coinage and had a different legal status, but according to the Discours Particulier D'Escosse of 1559, because silver was routinely extracted from the lead ore mining rights were also reserved to the crown.

John Misserve John Misserve, was an English worker in the Scottish mint. He was also described as the "Inglis mynour", and was given a licence to prospect for gold and silver in June 1556. He would sell lead produced during refining to Mary of Guise at 5 shillings for a stone weight. He was later discovered to be a counterfeiter of Scottish money.

John Acheson In January 1562 the goldsmith and royal mint worker John Acheson and his partner John Aslowan obtained a contract for lead mines in Glengonnar, or Leadhills, and Wanlock, granted by Mary, Queen of Scots. They were permitted to export lead ore to Flanders. In 1566 their rights were disputed by another group of prospectors and mine operators, John Johnston, Robert Kerr, and John Gibson of the Queen's Guard. Gibson had a contract for lead dating back to October 1560, which he had transferred to Johnston, James Lindsay, and Aslowan. Johnston and Ker were also factors for the Earl of Atholl who had a tack or lease for lead mines, granted in 1565. The Privy Council found in favour of Johnston and Aslowan and their "ejection" of Acheson from his tack.

Luke Wilson The Earl of Atholl arranged for Luke Wilson, with James Johnston of Kellobank and Robert Ker, to manage his mining contract with the queen. The treasurer's accounts include the receipt of duty on exported ore. The Wilson family gained a property in the area at "Bakke", near Roberton, when Luke's son married Katherine Johnsoun. Luke Wilson was a prominent Edinburgh burgess who had been tasked in 1561 to organise a pageant and a banquet to celebrate the royal entry of Mary, Queen of Scots. He may have the man named Luke Wilson who in 1542 lived at Biggar, a staging post on the route from the mines to Edinburgh. Robert Johnston managed the Atholl contract between 1571 and 1573. Barrels containing lead ore for export to Flanders were officially marked with branding irons by the Scottish mint, which was known as the "Cunze Hous".

George and Marion Douglas

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