Scottish shale Scottish shale

Roman Camp Oil Works (1892)

Parish:
Uphall, Linlithgowshire
Local authority:
West Lothian
Opened:
Built c. 1892
Closed:
Closed c.1955, demolished c. 1958
Current status of site:
Wooded wasteland

A major crude oil works, constructed by the Broxburn Oil Company in 1892 to supply crude oil to their Broxburn refinery and connected to it by the company's mineral railway. There were 240 retorts in use in 1895. This site was separate from Roman Camps Shale Oil Works which closed in the early 1870's.

Much of the workforce were accommodated in company housing at Roman Camp village, and the works were served from Roman Camp mines No.1, No.2 (north), No.2 (south) , No.3, No.4, No.5, No.6, & No.7. The opening of new mines immediately prior to World War two ensured that the oil works remained in production until c.1955.

  • Rateable value by year
    • Date Rateable Value Owner Occupier Notes
      1891-92 £500 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1893-94 £2632 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1895-96 £2350 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1897-98 £2200 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1889-1900 £2200 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1901 £6600 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1902-04 £3350 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1905-23 £4000 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1924-28 £5975 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1929-34 £5900 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1935 £5833 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1936 £5673 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1937 £5659 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1938 £5675 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1939 £5714 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1940-41 £5908 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1942 £5294 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1943 £5249 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1945 £5127 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1946-50 £5021 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1951-55 £5068 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      1956 £525 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Disused, vacant
      1958 £300 Broxburn Oil Company Ltd Broxburn Oil Company Ltd
      NO FURTHER ENTRIES
  • Location map
  • Detailed maps

    Archive images

  • Archive images - demolition of the works

    Recent images

  • Newspaper references
    • At Broxburn a new crude work has been erected, and a new shale mine sunk at a part of the neighbourhood known as "The Roman Camp." This is intended to take in the Pumpherston shales, and is on the Drumshoreland section of the company's mineral field. The new works are expected to start early next year. Otherwise, and the notwithstanding the depression, matters have been proceeding smoothly.

      Glasgow Herald, 29nd December 1892


  • Related file records
    • 142797 - Water Pollution by The Pumpherston Oil Company Limited - Correspondence between Broxburn Oil Co. Limited and The Pumpherston Oil Company Limited regarding water pollution by The Pumpherston Oil Company Limited affecting the water reaching the Broxburn Oil Co. Limited. Letters dated from 30th June, 1891 to 7th July, 1891.