The ample supply of coal, ironstone and lime in the Shotts area provided the raw ingredients required to produce pig iron.

The iron works and associated extraction of raw materials was the main source of industry in Shotts for a period of over 150 years.

Annual output of pig iron at Shotts reached a peak of 75,000 tons with a worldwide reputation for excellence of its foundry castings.

On 16 April 1801, Robert and Hugh Baird, civil engineers based near Glasgow, obtained a lease of the minerals on either side of South Calder Water.

The Company was wound up in 1952 when an Extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders passed a resolution appointing Joint Liquidators.