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

Roman Camp Oil Works - 25" OS map c.1897, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Roman Camp Oil Works - 25" OS map c.1916, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Roman Camp Oil Works - 1:2,500 OS map c.1955, courtesy National Library of Scotland

Roman Camp Oil Works - Aerial, courtesy National Library of Scotland

6" OS map c.1897 annotated to show the maximum extent of the bing.

1" OS map c.1904 annotated to show connecting mines and railways.

Archive images

See full record, LVSAV2009.091

See full record, LVSAV1990.091

Archive images - demolition of the works

See full record, LVSAV2010.061.001

See full record, LVSAV2010.061.002

See full record, LVSAV2010.061.003

See full record, LVSAV2010.061.004

Recent images

View across site of the oil works, from approximately the same spot as archive image (1). Looking east. March 2012.

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.