Example of Shale Oil Works
Dalmeny Shale Mines
In the mid19th and early 20th centuries, Dalmeny had numerous shale mines, Pits No's:1, 2, 3 and Railway Mines No's:1 and 2. The red bings were a familiar site from the roadside. Census returns and local newspapers refer to the increasing population of miners and builders with the associated fatalities in the mines and during the construction of the Forth Rail Bridge.
The Shale Mining industry commenced in 1862, and reached its height just before WW1. The last Shale mine closed in 1962. For many years it was the largest employer in West Lothian. Oil was extracted from the Shale which was mined. Shale dust did not ignite and it was used in coal mines as a fire extinguisher.
Each Miner had to buy their own tools and lamps. A Tool set, called a 'Graith' consisted of a drill and 5 bits, pick, and 'mash' – a mallet.
Queensferry Museum has a display cabinet with examples of pieces of Shale and tools etc.
In the mid19th and early 20th centuries, Dalmeny had numerous shale mines, Pits No's:1, 2, 3 and Railway Mines No's:1 and 2. The red bings were a familiar site from the roadside. Census returns and local newspapers refer to the increasing population of miners and builders with the associated fatalities in the mines and during the construction of the Forth Rail Bridge.
The Shale Mining industry commenced in 1862, and reached its height just before WW1. The last Shale mine closed in 1962. For many years it was the largest employer in West Lothian. Oil was extracted from the Shale which was mined. Shale dust did not ignite and it was used in coal mines as a fire extinguisher.
Each Miner had to buy their own tools and lamps. A Tool set, called a 'Graith' consisted of a drill and 5 bits, pick, and 'mash' – a mallet.
Queensferry Museum has a display cabinet with examples of pieces of Shale and tools etc.
A Pick and a Mash -http://www.scottishshale.co.uk/Collections/Museum
Generally, 'Drawers' were employed by Shale Miners or Facemen rather than directly by oil companies. They were paid by the day but had to fill and draw a certain number of hutches in that time.
For some (often those with family connections in the shale mines) being a Drawer was their first job in mining, others might start off at the pit bottom working as a pony driver or by attaching and detaching hutches from haulage chains. After working for several years as a Drawer they would normally progress to the position of Miner / Faceman with their own team of men working for them.
For some (often those with family connections in the shale mines) being a Drawer was their first job in mining, others might start off at the pit bottom working as a pony driver or by attaching and detaching hutches from haulage chains. After working for several years as a Drawer they would normally progress to the position of Miner / Faceman with their own team of men working for them.
Housing was supplied for the Shale Mine workers, most of them incomers. At Dalmeny there were fifty-one houses of two apartments, with scullery. Coal cellars and dry-closets were provided for each tenant, but no washhouses. Gravitation water was supplied by a few stand pipes. Drying space was provided.
Refuse was removed daily by the Company. The rental for these houses was 3s. 6d. weekly, inclusive of rates. There were also twenty-one single-apartment houses, with similar conditions to above, rental 1s. 9d. per week. Ashed pathways existed, and, consequently, in wet weather were in a very dirty condition.
These houses were owned by the Dalmeny Oil Company. The appearance of The Rows was anything but inviting as a place of habitation for the population of 434 persons. Theodore K. Irvine, Report on the Housing Conditions in the Scottish Shale Field, 1914.
Refuse was removed daily by the Company. The rental for these houses was 3s. 6d. weekly, inclusive of rates. There were also twenty-one single-apartment houses, with similar conditions to above, rental 1s. 9d. per week. Ashed pathways existed, and, consequently, in wet weather were in a very dirty condition.
These houses were owned by the Dalmeny Oil Company. The appearance of The Rows was anything but inviting as a place of habitation for the population of 434 persons. Theodore K. Irvine, Report on the Housing Conditions in the Scottish Shale Field, 1914.
The Coal Authority Mines Abandonment Catalogue lists Dalmeny No. 2, No. 3 and Railway Mines as being abandoned in 1914. It is unclear whether the Railway Mines relate to an unsuccessful attempt to exploit shale seams to the north of Dalmeny Oil Works - an area subsequently accessed in Rosshill No.1 & 2 Mines. According to the West Lothian Courier for 10th March 1911.
Dalmeny Oil Works – was built 1870, and was presumably cleared in 1927. The site is the landscaped area adjacent to the tank farm, sited within the former bing. A substantial crude oil works exploiting local oil-shales.
Dalmeny Oil Works – was built 1870, and was presumably cleared in 1927. The site is the landscaped area adjacent to the tank farm, sited within the former bing. A substantial crude oil works exploiting local oil-shales.
Less than two years after construction of the oil works, TheDalmeny Oil Company Ltd, was formed to take over the interests of the business. A close working relationship later developed with the Oakbank Oil Company Ltd, who refined much of Dalmeny's crude, and ultimately owned the majority of the company's shares. Following the formation of Scottisn Oils Ltd, much of the shale produced at the Ingliston pits were transported to Dalmeny for retorting.
Redwood commented "This company has been a phenomenal success, and as it has always been a crude oil work only, and has not had any special advantages as regards shale fields, &c., it points to the fact that there is not much profit in refining unless done on a sufficiently large scale; and if some of the other ventures had followed the Dalmeny Company's example, and stuck to the crude oil business and left the refining to those more capable of doing it, it would have been better for all concerned."
Redwood commented "This company has been a phenomenal success, and as it has always been a crude oil work only, and has not had any special advantages as regards shale fields, &c., it points to the fact that there is not much profit in refining unless done on a sufficiently large scale; and if some of the other ventures had followed the Dalmeny Company's example, and stuck to the crude oil business and left the refining to those more capable of doing it, it would have been better for all concerned."
Dalmeny No 1 Pit was opened C1870 by the Dalmeny Oil Company ltd. The location of Dalmeny No.1 Pit is unsure. 'Mines and Pits Sunk' lists Dalmeny No. 1, 2, & 3 Pits, plus four air pits sunk in the Dalmeny shale-field. Mining plans mark the location of a number of shafts, but do not identify any of these as No. 1.
Dalmeny No 2 Pit - The history of the pit is unclear. It seems likely that once workings of No. 2 were linked to those of Dalmeny No.3 Pit, the surface buildings of No. 2 Pit were demolished and the site subsequently covered by spent shale from Dalmeny Oil Works. It is situated in landscaped space within the oil terminal.
Dalmeny Pit No: 3 – was opened pre 1885 and abandoned in 1914. The last of three pits sunk to exploit the Broxburn Shale in the vicinity of Dalmeny Oil Works, and seemingly linked to the workings of Dalmeny No. 2 Pit. Following closure, the pithead site became the terminus of the tramway serving Rosshill No. 1 & 2 Mines, and probable site of the haulage engine.
The site lies beneath the approach road to the Forth Bridge.
Dalmeny No 2 Pit - The history of the pit is unclear. It seems likely that once workings of No. 2 were linked to those of Dalmeny No.3 Pit, the surface buildings of No. 2 Pit were demolished and the site subsequently covered by spent shale from Dalmeny Oil Works. It is situated in landscaped space within the oil terminal.
Dalmeny Pit No: 3 – was opened pre 1885 and abandoned in 1914. The last of three pits sunk to exploit the Broxburn Shale in the vicinity of Dalmeny Oil Works, and seemingly linked to the workings of Dalmeny No. 2 Pit. Following closure, the pithead site became the terminus of the tramway serving Rosshill No. 1 & 2 Mines, and probable site of the haulage engine.
The site lies beneath the approach road to the Forth Bridge.
It was undoubtedly dangerous work -www.scottishmining.co.uk and www.scottishshale.co.uk. have records of many Lothian accidents causing injuries and fatalities.
25th June 1870 -Injury to miner John Carlin through fall of shale.
25th March 1885- injury to James Johnstone and Henry White caused by scalding.
5th september 1903 - injury to John Minelias following a fall of shale
18th December 1903- fatal accident of Hugh Paisley killed by falling over the spent shale tip.
21st July -Peter Ronaldson, Chain-Runner , 1 Stone Row, Dalmeny, Linlithgowshire, died in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 18 July 1911 in No. 1 Rosshill Shale Mine, Dalmeny, Linlithgowshire, when he was crushed. NAS Reference: SC41/13/1911/10
16th October 1911, - death of Robert Grieve aged 23, a Miners Drawer, of 23 Catherine Terrace and Francis Gilhooley, a Mining Contractor, of 8 Railway Row, Dalmeny, died in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh from burns as a result of an explosion of the Firedamp (flammable gasses), caused by ignition from a naked flame lamp which should not have been used in the area. The precaution of an electric lamp had not been taken. Five other men were injured in the explosion.
26th December 1911- death of Alexander Craig, a Labourer of Hill Square, Queensferry, died in the Royal Infirmary from injuries sustained on 25 November 1911 at the Oil Works, Dalmeny, Linlithgowshire, when he was run over by a large oil tanker. NAS Reference: SC41/13/1912/2
17th December 1912- William Pollock, mine fireman, South Queensferry, died in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 14 December 1912 at Rosshill Shale Mine, Dalmeny, Linlithgowshire, when he was burned as a result of an explosion of gas. NAS Reference: SC41/13/1913/2
4th February 1913- James Malone, 46, a Miners Drawer, following an accident. James was standing by whilst a miner was liberating some side which they thought would knock out a tree. The tree which was 8 feet 6 inches long, was knocked out and fell towards James instead of in the direction it was expected to fall; the end of it grazed the front of his abdomen. He was able to walk home but died in the Hospital about fifteen hours late.
26th January 1915 -Patrick Tierney, miner, 19 East Terrace, South Queensferry, died in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 24 January 1915 in Roshill Shale Mine, Dalmeny, Linlithgowshire, in a gas explosion.
NAS Reference: SC41/13/1915/3
3rd August 1915, James William Rennoldson after being hit by a large piece of clinker at a spent shale bing.
24th December 1916 -Charles Moughan, miner, 8 Railway Row, Dalmeny, died at at Rosshill Shale Mine, Dalmeny, Linlithgowshire, when a large stone fell upon him. NAS Reference: SC41/13/1917/3
25th September 1920- John Martin retortman, 20 Stone Row, Dalmeny, died at Dalmeny Oil Works, when he was knocked down by a runaway hutch.
NAS Reference: SC41/13/1920/17
25th June 1870 -Injury to miner John Carlin through fall of shale.
25th March 1885- injury to James Johnstone and Henry White caused by scalding.
5th september 1903 - injury to John Minelias following a fall of shale
18th December 1903- fatal accident of Hugh Paisley killed by falling over the spent shale tip.
21st July -Peter Ronaldson, Chain-Runner , 1 Stone Row, Dalmeny, Linlithgowshire, died in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 18 July 1911 in No. 1 Rosshill Shale Mine, Dalmeny, Linlithgowshire, when he was crushed. NAS Reference: SC41/13/1911/10
16th October 1911, - death of Robert Grieve aged 23, a Miners Drawer, of 23 Catherine Terrace and Francis Gilhooley, a Mining Contractor, of 8 Railway Row, Dalmeny, died in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh from burns as a result of an explosion of the Firedamp (flammable gasses), caused by ignition from a naked flame lamp which should not have been used in the area. The precaution of an electric lamp had not been taken. Five other men were injured in the explosion.
26th December 1911- death of Alexander Craig, a Labourer of Hill Square, Queensferry, died in the Royal Infirmary from injuries sustained on 25 November 1911 at the Oil Works, Dalmeny, Linlithgowshire, when he was run over by a large oil tanker. NAS Reference: SC41/13/1912/2
17th December 1912- William Pollock, mine fireman, South Queensferry, died in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 14 December 1912 at Rosshill Shale Mine, Dalmeny, Linlithgowshire, when he was burned as a result of an explosion of gas. NAS Reference: SC41/13/1913/2
4th February 1913- James Malone, 46, a Miners Drawer, following an accident. James was standing by whilst a miner was liberating some side which they thought would knock out a tree. The tree which was 8 feet 6 inches long, was knocked out and fell towards James instead of in the direction it was expected to fall; the end of it grazed the front of his abdomen. He was able to walk home but died in the Hospital about fifteen hours late.
26th January 1915 -Patrick Tierney, miner, 19 East Terrace, South Queensferry, died in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 24 January 1915 in Roshill Shale Mine, Dalmeny, Linlithgowshire, in a gas explosion.
NAS Reference: SC41/13/1915/3
3rd August 1915, James William Rennoldson after being hit by a large piece of clinker at a spent shale bing.
24th December 1916 -Charles Moughan, miner, 8 Railway Row, Dalmeny, died at at Rosshill Shale Mine, Dalmeny, Linlithgowshire, when a large stone fell upon him. NAS Reference: SC41/13/1917/3
25th September 1920- John Martin retortman, 20 Stone Row, Dalmeny, died at Dalmeny Oil Works, when he was knocked down by a runaway hutch.
NAS Reference: SC41/13/1920/17
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