Burngrange Mining Disaster


1947

Fifteen miners died at the Burngrange Oil Shale Mine at West Calder (West Lothian) on 10th January 1947, following an explosion and fire that was started by an improperly used miner's lamp igniting firedamp. Owned by Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company, the mine began production in 1936 and worked the Dunnet Shale Seam by the 'stoop and room' method. Unveiled in 1989, There is a memorial plaque commemorating the disaster on the co-operative clock in the centre of West Calder.


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