15, Ramsay Road, Leadhills

Single storey stone former miner's cottage with slated roof and monopitch outbuilding.

The village of Leadhills, previously made up of summer stone bothies for miners to exploit the mineral rich deposits in the area, started to establish permanent occupation in the 1670s when mining in nearby Sanquhar could provide coal to heat buildings through harsh winter weather.

The Scots Mining Company took over the lease of the north-eastern part of the mining grounds in 1729. By 1735 the mining operation was no longer profitable and a new manager, James Stirling was appointed. Stirling secured for all miners a right to ground for houses, along with garden ground for cultivation, to improve the poor health he had identified in miners following his appointment. In addition a school and miners' library were also established.

Prosperity in the village started to decline around 1830 and The Scots Mining Company relinquished its mining lease in 1861. The Leadhills Mining Company, which already had mines in the south-eastern area, then taking over all mines in the area. During this period of mining the village reached a population peak of around 1,400. (South Lanarkshire Council)

February 2010: External inspection finds the small cottage (in use previously as a doctor's surgery) in an advanced state of decay.
The building is noted as a priority case for repair and enhancement under the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) for Leadhills.

8 June 2012: A member of the public advises that the building's condition has deteriorated further with the roof now nearly gone.

4 June 2013: External inspection finds the roof has collapsed into the main building, walls remain mostly intact to wallhead. Condition moved to Very Poor. The CARS for Leadhills, for which the property was a noted priority project, finished in 2012.