Methil Oil Works

Alternative names:

Methil Paraffin Oil Works

Former parish and county:

Parish of Wemyss, Fife

Local authority:

Fife

Ownership:

E.W. Binney & Co.

Pirnie Coal Co.

Methil Paraffin Oil Co.

Opened:

Property at "old shipyard" held since c 1859, oil works constructed c.1864

Closed:

Production ceased c.1876 and site cleared c. 1883

Current status of site:

Site incorporated into the dock complex

Regional overview:

Oil works in Fife

Redwood notes that the oil works were equipped with 40 horizontal and vertical retorts and operated both as a crude oil works and a refinery. He also states....

"started by Messrs. R. Carrick and Arnott, was known by the name "Methyl Paraffin Oil Works", and was situated at the north-east corner of Methyl "old" harbour, in Fifeshire. The crude oil was made from a gas coal found in the Pirnie Parrot Coal Seam, which later on was found only twelve feet from the surface. The crude oil was refined and sold in the neighborhood for 3s 6d. per gallon, but a year or so later a contract was made to supply a Newcastle merchant at the rate of 2s 6d per gallon.. The tanks in which the oil was stored while in the course of purification were made of brick and cement; but this method of storage led to such a large loss by leakage that the firm failed in 1868; and the members had to leave the country in order to escape arrest. Mr. Benney (on whose estate the work was situated) carried on the business (producing only crude oil from 16 retorts) until 1870, when he gave it up as unprofitable."

From the early 1840's, a particularly rich seam of cannel coal was worked in the Methil area, and shipped widely to supply the gas industries . Mineral statistics for 1854 lists "Methel cannel" as second only to "Boghead Parrot" in terms of tonnage exported to London. Slightly later, Methil cannel also supplied the coal oil industry; for example, it was sent by sea to the Grangepans Oil Works in Bo'ness.

As the supplies of Boghead coal became exhausted, the proprietors of the Bathgate Chemical Works sought an alternative source of oil-rich cannel. Prior to 1859, Edward Binney and Edward Meldrum, (two of the three partners operating the Bathgate works), formed the Pirnie Coal Company to operate coal interests based at Pirnie Colliery Methilhill (56.185613, -3.034078), a mile west of Methil harbour. From 11th November 1859, Edward Binnie became sole partner in this company, the dissolution of copartnery being signed by Binney in Manchester and by Meldrum at the Bathgate works. Amongst the property held by Binney (or the Pirnie Coal Company?) since c.1858 was an old shipyard in Methil, probably chosen as site of the Methil oil works to provide easy export of products by sea. At that time the small harbour at Methil was in a poor condition, with many waterfront properties shown on the 1854 OS map marked as ruins.

Construction of the oil works (various titled as Methil, Methill, or Methyl paraffin oil works) seems not to have begun until c.1864 when James Young's patent on oil production from cannel coals expired. This development was not undertaken by Binnie's Pirnie Coal Company, but instead by the partnership of Robert Carrick and John Arnot, trading as the Methil Paraffin Oil Company. Carrick was previously manager of the Pirnie Coal Company; Arnot was a gas engineer working in England who seems to have contributed little to the company other than some second-hand equipment. The works closed in 1867 following the collapse in oil prices due to American imports. Bankruptcy proceedings during July 1869 tell the sad story of the company's failure. These make mention to the sale of equipment to Mesrrs. Colville & Gray of Coatbridge (a firm associated with Avonhead Oil Works ), although it was unclear whether this was removed from site. By 1872, when the partner's debts were discharged, Robert Carrick's address was given as St Louis, United States of America; perhaps giving credibility to Redwood's assertion that members of the firm had to flee the country to avoid arrest.

In 1869, the works were put on the market as a going concern, but attracted little interest, although the local press made mention of possible take over by a Kirkcaldy firm, and of the possibility that equipment would be set up on a new site by the Pirnie Coal Company. Neither appears to have taken place. It seems that in 1872, the Pirnie Coal Company (sometimes latterly referred to as the Pirnie Coal and Paraffin Oil Company) resumed small-scale production of crude oil on the site, despite concerns about pollution. Some disused oil works plant survived when the site was offered for sale in 1878.

Mapped by the Ordnance Survey of c.1855, showing probable "old shipyard" site of Methil oil works marked in red.

Rateable value by year

Date	Rateable Value	Owner	Occupier	Notes
1859-60	£450	Earl of Wemyss	Binney & Meldrum	Methil Parrot Coal & Houses
1861	£450	Earl of Wemyss	Binney & Meldrum	Methil Parrot Coal & Houses
	£12.17/-	Edward Binney	Edward Binney	Methil Old Shipyard
1862	£450	Earl of Wemyss	Edward Binney	Methil Parrot Coal & Houses
	£13	Edward Binney	Edward Binney	Old Shipyard
1863-64	£450	Edward Binney	Edward Binney	Old Shipyard
	£13	Edward Binney	Edward Binney	Old Shipyard
	£1060.12/-		Edward Binney	Dysart Coal
1865-70	£76	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Works at Shipyard
1871	£56	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Works at Shipyard
1872	£60	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Works at Shipyard
1873	£40	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Works at Shipyard
1874	£50	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Works at Shipyard
1875	£60	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Works at Shipyard
1876-78	£30	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Works at Shipyard
1879	£20	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Methil Paraffin Oil Company	Works at Shipyard
1880-81	£39	Edward Binney	P Stuart Brown	Manure Manufacturers
1882	£30	Trustees of E Binney	Trustees of E Binney	Unlet
				NO FURTHER ENTRIES

Location map

Detailed maps

Methil Paraffin Oil Works - 25" OS map c.1895, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Methil Paraffin Oil Works - 1:2,500 OS map, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Methil Paraffin Oil Works - Aerial, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Recent images

Methil docks - former level crossing, at the site of the old harbour, at dusk. Looking east. February 2012.

Newspaper references

Methil - NEW OIL WORKS – The recently discovered process of converting coal into oil is going forward very briskly in this place, and the works are being increased, thereby affording employment to many willing hands.

Fife Herald, 2nd March 1865

.......

MINERAL OIL WORKS – TO BE LET, with Immediate Entry. THE METHIL PARAFFIN OIL WORKS, METHIL, FIFESHIRE, including the WORKS lately occupied by the Methil Paraffin Oil Company, with the SMITH'S and COOPER'S SHOPS, OFFICE, &c., fourteen TENEMENTS for WORKMEN, and a very extensive YARD. For about 90 yards, the Property fronts the Harbour at Methil, where vessels of 200 tons burden can load and discharge cargoes. The works are well-situated for a cheap supply of coal and are only about a mile from the Leven Station on the Leven and East of Fife Railway. Arrangements may be made for supply of Cannel Coal, yielding from 50 to 60 Galls. Of Crude Oil per Ton, which can be delivered at the works at a low rate. Further particulars may be obtained from JAMES WEBSTER, S.S.C., 37 Albany Street, Edinburgh; of JAMES W KIRBY, Pirnie Colliery, Leven, Fife.

Scotsman, 6th October 1869

.......

VALUATION APPEAL COURT

The Pirnie Coal and Paraffin Oil Company appealed against the valuations put upon certain houses they had erected upon their works for the use of their workers, for which they alleged no rent was paid. Mr J. R. Welch, writer, supported the appeals, and said it was the principle upon which the valuation was made that his clients disputed. He stated that the appellants had a lease for twenty-one years of the colliery at Methil and works at Methilhill from the late Mr Wemyss, and that during the currency of their lease they were entitled to erect certain buildings, including workers' houses, at their works, which might or might not be taken by the proprietor at a valuation, and might be taken down at the expiry of the lease. The buildings were erected by the appellant, but as he had no feudal title to them he submitted that they could not be assessed.

Fife Herald, 17th September 1868

.......

To be SOLD by PUBLIC ROUP at LEVEN STATION, LEVEN and E . of FIFE . RAILWAY on WEDNESDAY the 13th day of October 1869. 312 PARAFFIN OIL CASKS belonging to the Sequestrated Estate of the Methill Paraffin Oil Company. Many of the Casks are new . The Whole will be Divided into suitable Lots. The Roup to begin at One o'clock P.M . Leven 1st October 1869.

Scotsman, 12th October 1869

.......

Methil - The Chemical Works – We learn that the Paraffin Oil Works have been leased by a Kirkcaldy firm, and are soon again to be in operation.

Fife Herald, 19th May 1870

.......

LEVEN - Sale of Methil Oil Works

The Paraffin Oil Works at Methil, which have long been standing, have been disposed of. Mr Binnie [sic], coalmaster, has purchased a number of the retorts, with the view, we learn, of erecting them near his colliery for the purpose of manufacturing his coal into crude oil.

Fife Herald, 27th October 1870

.......

Methil - Oil Works – Preparations are making here to start the Paraffin Oil Works that have been standing for some time past. They are leased by Mr Binny [sic], of The Pirnie Parrot Coal. It will give employment to a few. But this Oil Works is very offensive to many of the inhabitants here, from the filth it produces, and especially to the fishermen, who will suffer from its bad effects in destroying their bait.

Fife Herald, 1st December 1870

.......

Methil - The Paraffin Oil Works. —Much activity prevails at these works at present. The oil manufactured is sent off a crude state, and in number of cases is, we understand, used in the making of gas. These works add not little to the trade the district and materially enhance the shipping at the harbour.

Fife Herald, 17th October 1872

.......

Methil – To be let for a term of years, the Buildings, Dwelling Houses, and Land known as the Methil Paraffin Oil Works, situated close to the Harbour. The Oil-making Plant, consisting of 13 retorts, Condensers, Steam Engine, Boiler & c. can be taken over by Valuation or not at the option of the Tenant. The premises are suitable for Iron Shipbuilding, for which they were formerly used, and for other purposes. Apply Mr. Kirby, Ashgrove, Leven.

Scotsman, 2nd January 1878