SUBSIDENCES AT BATHGATE -DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.
As a result, it is believed, of subsidences. due to a collapse of undarground workings, whole blocks of houses in Mid Street, Bathgate, have been greatly damaged. At Helenslee Cottages one house is partially wrecked, while in Helenslee Terrace, the Ark, and Lily Bank Cottage, in almost every house ceilings have fallen wholly or in part, while walls are cracked. The Ark block of houses have moved away almost an inch from the cement pavement. At Acredale several windows were cracked, and pavement raised, but no inside damage was reported inside the houses. Bathgate St John's U.F. Church has also suffered from this recent subsidence, and old fissures been widened in Jarvey Street, Gideon Street, and Mill Road. The properties during the last twelve months have all suffered from these subsidences, and Bathgate Parish Church and the Masonic Temple has been among the buildings affected.
Edinburgh Evening News, 23rd February 1912
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UNDERGROUND WORKINGS.
The effects the underground workings on tho subsiding buildings in Mid Street have become more serious of late. Especially in the case the Working-Men’s Institute is this the case, and the building has had to propped up several of the windows having been framed round with wood in order to keep them from breaking. In the institute on the second flat is a large hall with five billiard tables, and a movement is at present on foot, the object of which is have some of tables shifted to the bottom flat in order to try and counteract tho sinking. … The gas pipes under the public road seem also to be affected, as on two or three occasions workmen have been in evidence excavating in front of the Institute, while the smell of was very prevalent.
Linlithgowshire Gazette, 30th August 1912
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Warrant was asked to make certain alterations on building in Mid St., which adjoins Bathgate Institute, and was recently wrecked owing to partial subsidence of underground workings. Mr Reid reported that the plans showed a proposed reconstruction of the ground floor front with new and larger pillars to support the carrying beams and that the north gable also to be demolished and rebuilt. The plans were reported to be in order and warrant was granted as craved. .
West Lothian Courier, 18th February 1916
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ALARMING SUBSIDENCE IN BATHGATE.
Damage to Property and Roadway. Many residents in the burgh of Bathgate had a rude awakening on Sunday morning, when an alarming subsidence, extending over an area of one hundred yards by 50 yards, occurred in the business part of the town. Considerable damage was done to property and the roadway, and big rents stretched across the streets. Pavements were uprooted in places, and the gas mains broken. Hopetoun Street, the main business thoroughfare of Bathgate, was the place which suffered the greatest amount of damage by the subsidence. The business premises of Provost James Walker, grocer, came in for a big share of the damage, the frontage the building being completely wrecked. On the opposite side of the street the window of a shop belonging to Hunter Bros., drapers, was smashed. The pavement in Hopetoun Street was uprooted, cracks were visible here and there, and gaping rents stretching almost across the entire roadway were be seen at intervals.
TENANTS VACATE HOUSES.
A small dwelling-house near Mid Street was badly damaged internally, and the tenants were forced to remove their furniture to other quarters. The property of Mr James Carlaw, baker, also came for extensive damage. Mr Carlaw, who has his dwelling-house above the shop, was compelled to vacate the house was fortunate to secure an empty cottage, to which had his furniture removed in the course of the day. Hopetoun Lane, which runs parallel with Hopetoun Street, also fared badly. The entire property in the lane showing cracks and other damage. The gas mains in the streets were broken, and workmen had to hurriedly secured on Sunday to open up the roadways that the gas mains could plugged, and prevent the escape of the gas. The Bathgate branch of the Union Bank of Scotland suffered to some extent, while the roadway near the building showed many wide creeks. As has been mentioned, the subsidence extended for about 100 yards 50 yards, and within that area very few properties escaped. It is conjectured tbat underground workings are responsible for the upheaval, though the scene presented Sunday the appearance as if the district had been visited by an earthquake.
STRANGE NOISES AND RUMBLINGS.
Several residents stated on Sunday that it had been noticed for several days back that a sett had been going on. It was shortly after daylight on Sunday, however, before the first signs of the subsidence manifested themselves, and these took the form strange noises and rumblings. It was seven o’clock when the glass in Provost Walker's premises fell on to the street with a crash, and the noise attracted the attention residents from many quarters, and caused some alarm. Hopetoun Street has been closed for traffic. It was impossible give idea of the damage done, although is estimated the total will run into several thousand pounds.
Falkirk Herald, 20th June 1923
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BATHGATE SUBSIDENCE. A DISQUIETENING INCIDENT. A house in Cherry Bank Place, situated at the foot of Hopetoun Lane, Bathgate, part of the ceiling fell last night while Mr. Wait and his family were at tea. As cracks in the walls also appeared to be widening, the family with their goods removed from the house. In other parts of fhe affected area there has been further serious earth movement since Sunday.
Edinburgh Evening News, 21st June 1923
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A BATHGATE SUBSIDENCE
Evidences of subsidence, due to an outcrop of minerals, has become manifest at Rosemount area, Mid Street, Bathgate. Towards the end of the year, small cracks appeared in some of the structures and these became more apparent a few days ago It may be recalled that a considerable number of years ago, similar effects were noted in an area extending from St. John's Church to the Institute in Mid Street. The movement now is in the other direction, and is on the line of well known “fault." Information obtained on the former was to the effect that the outcrop was really near the surface and therefore any damage resulting from that subsidence was located to a relatively narrow area. At that period no evidence of subsidence whatever appeared in the roadway, nor were water pipes or gas pipes in any way damaged In connection with the burgh surveyor, Bathgate Co-operative Society., who are owners of property at Rosemount, have taken precautions to avoid risks of accident.
West Lothian Courier, 4th January 1935
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Subsidence.- Towards the end of the month, subsidence occurred at Rosemount on the line of an old outcrop, and while considerable damage has been caused to Rosemount property, the area affected is clearly defined so far, and no effect is being observed either in the carnage way, footpath., or the main water and sewer service,, in Mid Street.
West Lothian Courier, 18th January 1935
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MID STREET SUBSIDENCE
.....Mr Spalding further reported that week ago, an underground movement, affecting the stability of buildings, commenced in Mid Street. The buildings chiefly affected were the police station and the tenement of dwelling houses, known as Kew Gardens. The movement was observed in one of the dwelling houses attached to the police station when portions of the plaster ceilings fell to the floor. On Tuesday , 5th January, the conditions in this particular house became dangerous and advised the occupier, Sgt. Cuthill, to vacate the house. Sgt. Cuthill was rehoused the same day in a home belonging to the local authority which. fortunately. was vacant at the time. Two houses in Kew Gardens became dangerous to the occupiers later in the week. One of the occupiers had obtained temporary sleeping accommodaton elsewhere. The other tenant. had. so far, not obtained alternative accommodation. He (Mr Spalding) met representatives of the proprietors of the police station buildings on the site and in virtue of the powers coferred upon him by the Burgh Polices (Scotland) Act be requested them, in the public interest to carry out the following steps—(l) remove the front parapet wall and gate pillars; (2) shore up the north gable of the Police statiion: (3) take down the heavy chimney head on the north gable; (4) temporarily support beams and lintels at various places where stability was affected. These safety measures were now being carried out under his supervision. As part of the public footway adjoining the property was considered unsafe he had caused it to be roped off and lit at night. Since Saturday last only a very slight movement in the buildings had been observed. Finally It might be interesting to note a probable cause of the disturbance that the buildings affected were situated in an area where seams coal crop to the surface.
West Lothian Courier, 15th January 1943
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DOCTOR'S HOUSE IS "CRACKING UP" Every Room Damaged
A FAMOUS 44 YEAR-OLD HOUSE in Marioribanks Street. Bathgate is literally cracking up. Over the the past the weeks, the house has “moved" several times, and cracks which at first appeared as mere hairlines are now n places 1/4-inch wide. The building, although not yet regarded as dangerous is daily moving further out of alignment. The downstairs area of the building owned by Dr, H. Douglas Thompson, whose surgery adjoins the house. Mrs D. Rossie, widow of a past Bathgate doctor owns the upper section. Both sections are badly affected. Large cracks run down the front of the house in diagonal lines from the top right-hand corner. Few windows in the building will open, as the stone round the window frames is no longer at the same angle as the frames.
West Lothian Courier, 19th July 1968
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A plea for emergency demolition powers was being considered by West Lothian District Council's policy and resources committee as the 'Courier' went to press yesterday (Thursday). The request was included in a detailed report on the High Hopetoun Street subsidence. compiled by building control officer Bill Millar. In the report Mr Millar also urged the District Council to draw up a )contingency plan to find alternative accommodation for shopkeepers and families. Mr Millar confirmed in the report that High Hopetoun Street moved nearly one inch a week. He said: "The most hopeful prognosis is that the settlement will cease without further serious damage to the buildings and that the National Coal Board will assume responsibility for the damage caused. "It is highly possible, however, that if movement continues at its present rate. some major works will shortly be required to stabilise the buildings.
West Lothian Courier, 23th January 1976