Scottish shale Scottish shale

Arden Oil Works

Former parish and county:
Parish of New Monkland, Lanarkshire
Local authority:
North Lanarkshire
Ownership:
William Wilson
John Kirk
Opened:
Built c.1866
Closed:
Presumed dismantled c.1874
Current status of site:
Returned to agriculture
Regional overview:

Redwood notes that the works were operated by the Trustees of John Wilson of Dundyvan, were located near Caldercruix and active between 1866 and 1870. He also states that they were equipped with 12 Bell and 12 Cowan retorts and "stood for a year or two and then was rented to J. Kirk for a short time".

John Wilson, who died in 1851, was one of Scotland's most accomplished iron masters. According to his obituary notice (below), he purchased the Arden estate in about 1838 and developed mineral workings to supply his Dundyvan Iron Work. A "country village" was built to house his workmen, while family members lived in a nearby mansion house.

Following John Wilson's death, Arden remained in the ownership of John Wilson's trustees, however valuation rolls show William Wilson as occupier and presumably the proprietor of the short-lived oil works.

There are no clues as to the precise location of the works, but these seem likely to have been associated with the surface buildings of one of the Arden pits.

  • Rateable value by year
    • Date Rateable value Owner Occupier Notes
      1866 £60 Trustees of J. Wilson William Wilson
      1867 £60 Trustees of J. Wilson William Wilson
      1868 £60 Trustees of J. Wilson William Wilson not working
      1869 £60 John Kirk
      1870 £80 John Kirk
      1871 £80 John Kirk
      1872 £80 John Kirk
      1873 £80 John Kirk
      1874 No further record
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  • Newspaper references
    • DEATH OF JOHN WILSON Esq. of DUNDYVAN

      ...The next speculation into which Wilson entered was the purchase, about thirteen years ago, of the Arden estate, three or four miles east of Airdrie, consisting of about 700 acres, 70 acres of which are set apart to the pasturing of large dairy, of about 70 cows. On this estate there are no smelting operations carried on, the coal and other minerals being worked out and conveyed to Dundyvan, and the other blast furnaces of Mr Wilson. At Arden Mr Wilson has erected a beautiful country village for the workmen on the estate, with an endowed school, in which the children are educated small expense. This estate, which was purchased for the sum of £18,000, cannot have done less than doubled its value in the hands of its late proprietor. There is excellent mansion-house on the estate, which has, along with the grounds, been greatly improved and beautified, and is the residence of Mr Wilson's eldest son.

      Falkirk Herald , 13th November 1851

      .......

      PUBLIC SHALE OF OIL WORK AND COLLIERY PLANT

      On THURSDAY, 12th MARCH, at Twelve o'clock.
      J. SHIRLAW & SON have been favoured with instructions to Sell by Auction, at ARDEN OIL WORKS (about 20 minutes' walk from Caldercruix Station, N.B. Railway) on the above date;-

      • One 18' Cylinder Horizontal Steam-Engine and Connections with Boiler, 27 ft. X 5 ft.
      • 31 Retorts and Connections, various kinds,
      • About 12 Tons Pit Rails and Crossings,
      • 6 Tons Platform Rails, Pit Pump Pipes, various sizes.
      • 6 Boilers, Single and Double Power Cranes.
      • Hutches and Hutch Sleepers. Smithy Tools. &c., &c.

      Catalogues may be had from the Proprietor, or from the Auctioneers, by the 6th prox. Wishaw, 27th February 1874.

      Scotsman, 2nd March 1874