How long has there been working mines in Scotland?

The history of coal mining in Scotland dates back to the 12th century, when monks at Newbattle Abbey began mining for coal to heat their monastery. In the early 16th century, coal mining began in earnest in the Lothians, and by the 17th century, Scotland was exporting coal to England and other European countries.

The Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries saw a dramatic increase in coal mining in Scotland, as coal was essential for powering the steam engines that drove the new factories and mills. By the mid-19th century, Scotland was producing over 30 million tons of coal per year, and was the world's leading exporter of coal.

The coal mining industry in Scotland declined in the 20th century, as other sources of energy, such as oil and natural gas, became more widely available. The last deep coal mine in Scotland closed in 2018, but there are still a few opencast coal mines in operation.