Newmains
| Newmains | |
|---|---|
 The main roundabout in Newmains, showing the Town War Memorial and the Asda Superstore. |
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 Newmains
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| Newmains shown within North Lanarkshire | |
| Population | 5,329 (2001 Census) |
| OS grid reference | NS820558 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WISHAW |
| Postcode district | ML2 |
| Dialling code | 01698 |
| Police | Scottish |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Newmains is a village and former mining community on the eastern edge of Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, 18 miles (29 km) south-east of Glasgow. Although it is considered by the local authority to have a town centre in its own right, it is often considered to be a part of Wishaw for administrative purposes.
The story of all the villages in the area surrounding Newmains and Wishaw is essentially the story of one of the most successful ventures into heavy industry in Scotland. Three iron works, the Omoa Ironworks, the Coltness Iron Company and the Shotts Iron Company comprise the earliest and perhaps the most important concentration of iron and steel manufacture in Scotland.
The Coltness Iron Works was established in 1837 by industrialist, Henry Houldsworth who, foreseeing the gradual demise of the once booming cotton industry, decided to diversify into minerals. On a visit to the Shotts Iron Company in 1836, Henry Houldsworth heard a rumour that the nearby Coltness Estate was to be sold. He lost no time in commissioning a survey which showed a large mineral field on the property. The estate was soon purchased from the trustees of Sir James Steuart Denham enabling the fortuitous establishment of an iron works on a proven mineral field. As well as the 'blackband' ironstone, there were considerable coal seams to be explored which would provide the fuel necessary to feed the furnaces.
Transport problems were solved in 1841 with a rail link to Coatbridge and the business prospered, expanding into Ayrshire with the opening of the Dalmellington Iron Works and sinking several new coal-pits in the area. One reason for its success was the self-contained nature of the company operations, providing its own coal and its own limestone from quarries on the estate. The company also entered the brick-making business both to provide bricks for its own needs and also for sale to a wider market. In 1909 they expanded into Portland Cement manufacture.
The Coltness works survived until very recently as a railway sleeper manufacturing facility for Tarmac, but were demolished in 2004.
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Wikipedia