Museum of Lead Mining

Wanlockhead Miners

Peggy Gemmell

The Museum of Lead Mining in Wanlockhead, Scotland’s Highest Village, was founded in 1974. Its purpose is to preserve and interpret, in an educational and entertaining style, the working and living conditions of the miners and their families during centuries of toil.

Our extensive Archive is eclectic in content, but family historians will be drawn by the wealth of genealogical data available. This information has been drawn, not only from Census Records, but from 18th century ‘Miners’ Bargains’; Communion Roles of both the Established and Free Churches; a detailed study of the old Kirkyard at Meadowfoot; Minute Books of various sporting and leisure societies, including Curling and the Silver Band and of course membership records of the 2nd oldest Subscription Library in Europe founded at Wanlockhead in 1756.

The Miners’ Library Collection has recently received Recognition as a collection of National Significance and it is in this Library building that descendants of Wanlockhead families can browse the genealogical records, copies of which are available for no more than a monetary donation to Museum funds.

The Silver Band 1935

Wanlockhead Curlers 1912

World War II Wanlockhead Servicemen

• Visit our website at: http://www.leadminingmuseum.co.uk