To MASONS & c. - CONTRACTORS Wanted to Erect a Range of 20 Retorts at Fergushill Oil Works, parish of Kilwinning. The site wil be shown by the foreman of the Works and Plans and Specifications may be seen at the office of Archibald Finnie and Son, Kilmarnock, from 2d to 6th August inclusive. Offers to be lodged on or before the 9th.Kilmarnock 30th July, 1869.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 31st July 1869
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CONFLAGRATION AT FERGUSHILL OIL WORKS.
On Wednesday afternoon, while workmen were engaged in connecting one oil tank with another by means of a drain and pipes, and when they had perforated the one into which the oil runs, when coining from the retorts an escape of gas came in contact with the flame of a lamp used by the men, causing an immediate explosion of the receiver, blowing the roof of the shed and set the whole works in one vast conflagration. nearly 20,000 gallons of oil were stored on the premises, and as the whole were soon in a blaze, all efforts to extinguish the lire were unavailing. To prevent any further explosion all the retorts were speedily unfastened and the gas allowed to escape.' The damage done to the buildings has not been so great, as might have been expected, and providentially no one has been seriously injured. The loss to the company is estimated at about L2OO.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 20th November 1869
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IRVINE – SUICIDE.
The other day, a man named Paterson, residing at Fergushill, near Irvine, and employed at the oil-works there, committed suicide by drinking a large quantity of vitriol. Paterson had been in Irvine during the day, and, on going home tipsy in the evening, he threatened to kill his child who resides with an old woman - its mother having died some time ago. He became very ? and at last swallowed a large quantity of vitriol. Medical assistance was speedily procured; but, through the stomach was emptied, the throat & c., were so burned that he survived only a short time.
Scotsman, 28th January 1870
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The Parrot Shale, or Shale Coal was in former years the most important seam in northern Ayrshire from the point of view of the distillation of oil. It was wrought, and oil-works were erected for its treatment, between Stevenson and Kilwinning, at Fergushill (near Montgreenan), and in the neighborhood of Doura and Annick Lodge.
Memoirs of the Geological Survey in Scotland Vol XXIV Cannel Coals, Lignite and Mineral Oil in Scotland by W. Gibson, 1922
