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Motion · S6M-05655 · 11 Aug 2022

Memorial to the Enslaved Child Miners of Newton Parish

Lodged by Foysol Choudhury Standard Motion 18 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament congratulates the Danderhall & District Guerrilla Gardeners on their campaign to preserve the history of the Edmonstone Waggonway and commemorate the lives of enslaved child miners of the colliery, including the 13 who were involved in the high-pressure pit disaster of 1839; understands that the 1840 Children’s Employment Commission found that the conditions in Newton parish’s mines were the worst in Scotland; further understands that the testimony of the children working in the mines was instrumental in bringing about the Mines and Collieries Act 1842, which raised the minimum age of miners to 14; notes that the memorial to “the slaved miner and his arled daughter” will stand as a memorial to the men, women and children who were condemned to live and work in such conditions and the efforts of those in the Free Colliers and trade union movements who worked to better the conditions; expresses its thanks to Helen Graham, Andy Kerr, Pauline Archibald, Brian Ostrowski, George Stout and Gillian Thompson of the Guerrilla Gardeners committee for their efforts in securing this memorial, and wishes them all the best for the future.

Supporters (18)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.