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2nd February 2016 - The Wilsontown Ironworks Emma Stewart How many of us driving to Edinburgh on the A706 would ever guess what a wealth of history we were driving through. Our February meeting was a day of revelation for many members as Emma Stewart the Environment Forester from the Forestry Commission revealed just what was tucked into the barren moorland, a story waiting to be told and this she did in an absorbing illustrated talk on an area she has spent 13 years researching. Back in 1779 the Wilson family were local landowners living off their land. John Wilson walking his estate spotted an interesting looking rock. Identifying it as ironstone he sent it to London for conformation. Back came the answer, yes, and very high quality too. Knowing their land was also rich in limestone and coal, John Wilson decided the family should build an ironworks using his own raw materials. With a lot of hard work and cash his project blossomed, being the only Ironworks in Lanarkshire. Workers houses on site grew to 450, housing 2000 people, with shops and a pub, it was a new community. The end product, was much sought after, from nails to rails to cannon balls. The complex stayed in the family but in 1811 market prices of iron slumped , the family started falling out and having accrued debits of £60,000 were made bankrupt. A new owner kept things going until 1842 when the Carron Ironworks gained ownership. Coal mining continued until 1955. The Forestry Commission now manage the area including the Ironworks site and are making great strides to expose and market the wealth of history there ,numerous Bell Pits (entry points to underground workings ) are being exposed to help complete the visitor experience.
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