Scottish shale Scottish shale

Forth & Clyde Oil Works

Alternative names:
Forth & Clyde Paraffin Works or Birdston Oil Works
Former parish and county:
Parish of Cadder, Lanarkshire
Local authority:
East Dunbartonshire
Opened:
Constructed c.1865
Closed:
Site used for other chemical purposes after c.1870
Current status of site:
Waste ground

forth&clydeworks.jpg

Redwood notes that the Forth & Clyde Works operated from 1862 to 1867. The partnership of Lester, Wyllie & Company also operated the Drumcross Paraffin Oil Works and was declared bankrupt in 1867. Valuation records show that the site was eventually occupied by the Nickel Comany Ltd - presumably the "Nickel Works" shown on the 1898 OS map on the south bank of the Forth and Clyde canal in Kirkintilloch.

  • Rateable value by year
    • Date Rateable Value Owner Occupier Notes
      1865 £120 William Lester William Lester Referred to as Birdston Works
      1866 £351 Lester & Wylie & Company Lester & Wylie & Company Referred to as Forth and Clyde
      1867-68 £500 Lester & Wylie & Company per McLellan & Son Lester & Wylie & Company per McLellan & Son Empty
      1869-70 £300 Sequestered Estates of Lester & Wylie Sequestered Estates of Lester & Wylie Empty
      1871 £500 James Miller & Son & Company James Miller & Son & Company
      1872 £300 James Miller & Son & Company James Miller & Son & Company
      1873 £175 George Readman & Henry Fulton George Readman & Henry Fulton
      1874-75 £130 George Readman & Henry Fulton George Readman & Henry Fulton
      1876-77 £125 George Readman: Manager Clydesdale Bank George Readman: Manager Clydesdale Bank
      1878-81 £125 G Readman James B Readman
      1882 £200 The Caledonian Mines Company Perry & Hope Chemical Works
      1883 £200 New Caledonian Mines Company New Caledonian Mines Company
      £525 New Caledonian Mines Company New Caledonian Mines Company Metallurgical Works
      1884 £200 The Nickel Company Ltd Perry & Hope
      NO FURTHER RESEARCH
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  • Newspaper references
    • WANTED, 2000 Petroleum Barrels and 1000 Iron bound Puncheons, all in sound condition, and delivered free te Forth and Clyde Paraffine Oil and Chemical Works, Kirkintilloch - Offers to be sent to Lester, Wyllie & Co. 146 Buchanan Street, Glasgow.

      Glasgow Herald, 2nd April 1866.

      .......

      KIRKINTILLOCH – VALUABLE OIL REFINERY FOR SALE.

      IN ORDER TO ENSURE A SALE, THESE WORKS WILL BE EXPOSED AT THE GREATLY REDUCED UPSET PRICE OF £1800.

      There will be Exposed for SALE, within the Faculty Hall, Glasgow, on Wednesday the 5th day of July 1871, at Two o'clock afternoon, ALL and WHOLE that PLOT or AREA of GROUND, containing 3 Acres, 30 Poles or thereby Imperial measure, as also ALL and WHOLE the PLOT or PIECE of GROUND, containing 3 acres, 2 Roods and 30 Poles or thereby Imperial measure, with the complete PARAFFIN OIL REFINERY thereon, all belonging to the Sequestered estate of Lester, Wylie & Company, Crude and Paraffin Oil Manufacturers. The Works, which it is estimated are capable of Refining about 300 Barrels per Week, are in excellent working order and are situated in the immediate vicinity of the Town of Kirkintilloch, within a few yards of the east bank of the Forth and Clyde Canal, to which there is free access, and at a distance of about 400 yards from the North British Railway.

      The Feu-Duty is £62, 8s, 6d. For further particulars apply to McCKELLAND, SON & Co. C.A., 140 St. Vincent Street Glasgow, with the latter of whom are the Tittle-Deeds and Articles of Roup. Glasgow 22nd June 1871.

      Scotsman, 4th July 1871