Westwood shale oil works, West Lothian

Maker
Unknown
Production date
Circa 1910
 Description
View of the shale oil works showing the retorts, chimneys and storage tanks. The shale bing, where the red oxide waste was dumped, is in the distance.
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Object detail

Department
Photo
Maker
Production date
Circa 1910
Subject person
Subject place
Westwood Shale Oil Works/Pumpherston/West Lothian
Subject notes
The Pumpherston Oil Co was formed in 1883 to exploit the ammonia rich shales. By 1902 it employed 1200 men, 800 of whom were miners. It was equipped with 180 retorts in which oil was extracted from the shale. Later retorts burnt their own waste gases, greatly saving on coal.
Accession number
P16684

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Public comments

The band that played at the coronation dance in the main garage off pumpherston oil works was" Charlie Carr and the alligators'

- Andrew adie posted 11 months ago.

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