Jim Hamilton Heritage Society of Coalburn

The work of Jim Hamilton (1922-2004) has bequeathed us a remarkable collection of interviews, films, photographs, postcards, and documents. Starting in the 1970s, Jim began to record long conversations with older residents, who shared strong recollections of life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Jim presented these in ‘Coalburn Chronicles’ – which together comprise over 5000 pages documenting memories of family, work and social life, in the local vernacular. Some of the interviews were filmed and are now available on DVD. Jim also compiled similar books for the neighbouring villages of Lesmahagow, Kirkmuirhill, Blackwood, Douglas, Glespin, Douglas Water and Rigside and shot a wide range of film in the local area. This archive, together with a wide range of further items and information, is housed at the Coalburn Heritage Centre in Coalburn Miners’ Welfare.

“It has been suggested to me that Coalburn now has possibly the best documented set of family histories for any village in Britain.” Jim Hamilton