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Traditional Celtic Music, Scottish Songs & Border Ballads
Scots' musician, songwriter, & balladeer.
Hazel
Song History
Collier Laddie
A simple brief
thought on Scottish
Independance.

Were the outdated
union not of some very
high value to England and
the English, why would
they fight so to try to
keep it?

There are only so many
slices to a pie, for one to
have more, another must
have less.

Lastly - to those Scottish
"Loyalists" - to whom are
you loyal?
Scots royalty died in the
1700's so it can be no
Scots crown - And
certainly not it appears to
those who came before,
that bled for Scotland
and her freedom !  
In the words
of Burns, as he
wrote from the heart.

Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to victorie.

Now's the day, and now's the hour;
See the front o' battle lour;
See approach proud Edward's power,
Chains and slaverie.

Wha would be a traitor-knave?
Wha can fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a Slave?
Let him turn and flie:

Wha for Scotland's king and law,
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Free-man stand, or free-man fa',
Let him follow me.

By Oppression's woes and pains!
By your Sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!

Lay the proud Usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow!
Let us Do - or Die!!!

Choose your destiny.
Collier Laddie(s) - or Mining Men










Lead & Coal
(Lead described as tours available)
Museum of Scottish Leadmining, Wanlockhead
Just before arriving at Sanquhar on the A76, the scenic
drive through the dramatic landscapes either side of
the B797 upto Wanlockhead and Scotland's Lead
Mining Museum. Wanlockhead is Scotland's highest
village situated at over 1500 feet up and deep within
the stunning Lowther Hills. Alternatively this stretch of
the Southern Upland Way is one of the prettiest.

There's a rich history of Lead Mining up here at
Wanlockhead and within the Lead Mining Museum
complex there's an extensive exhibition looking at
lives of those who worked the lead mines here across
150 years. Mining was still active in the area in the
1950s, with its origins dating back to 1710 when lead
veins were first discovered at Wanlockhead. One
notable visitor was Robert Burns in the 1700s who's
horse had lost a shoe, and having no money to pay the
Blacksmith he wrote the poem 'Pegasus' as payment,
"Ye Vulcan's sons of Wanlcokhead, Pity my sad
disasterr; My Pegasus is poorly shot, I'll pay you like
my master". In the centre of Thornhills you'll see a
lead sculpture of the horse Pegasus, made here at
Wanlockhead.

With due attention to social history, this mining
museum explores the use of child labour in lead
mining, and the horrendous effects of working with
lead before its toxicity was realised. Photography of
early 20th century lead miners show them wearing
simple hats with candles attached at the front for light.
Also within the exhibition is an extensive display of
rare minerals found in the Leadhills area, plus working
models of mining machinery, mining artefacts and
photography.

The best way to get a sense of mining history is to take
a tour down a mine, and you can do that here at
Wanlockhead via a guided tour down on-site Lochnell
Mine. This mine was worked over a period of 150
years, and dates back to when a Quaker company first
leased the lead veins from 1710 to 1756. Crawford &
Company took it oveer from 1756 to 1842. Within
Wanlockhead there's also a Minter's Library and
numerous trails taking in miners cottages. Check the
Lead Mining Museums website right for opening times
and details. Museum of Scottish Lead Mining,
Wanlockhead, By Biggar, ML12 6UT. Tel. 01659 74387.