14
Describing the Morphology of the Surviving Material Heritage associated with the Scottish Shale Oil Industry. Abstract The project set out to identify and describe all material from the Scottish shale oil industry that has survived in museum, archive, and reference library collections. Systems of classification were devised and applied to this data in order to characterise and visualise the overall morphology of this surviving heritage. Some preliminary consideration was given to the comparative morphology of individual collections. Introduction. Shale oil was an important component of Scotland's heavy industries, and pioneered processes and practices that were subsequently adopted throughout the world. The Bathgate Chemical Works, established in1851 by James Young and partners, arguably represented the first industrial-scale processing of mineral oils anywhere in the world. This gave rise to an industry based on coal oil that briefly operated at sites throughout the Scottish coalfields, and (more significantly,) the shale oil industry centred in West Lothian that operated between 1860 and 1962. This study forms part of a year-long project conducted by Almond Valley Heritage Trust, and funded by Museums Galleries Scotland and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Full results of the national survey, including object-level descriptions, are to be published through a website (www.scottishshale.co.uk) which should provide a tool of value in directing research and informing collecting activity. Methodology Prior to this work no detailed information was available on the extent of the surviving material heritage of the Scottish shale oil industry, as represented by items in museum and archive collections. Scotland's National Audit of museum collections, published in 2002, was the first comprehensive survey of Scotland's museum collections. The information this provided was not of sufficient detail to distinguish collections relating to specific industries, but has guided subsequent works. The Scottish Textile Heritage Project and the Scottish Coal Collections Survey are two notable industry-specific surveys that have taken place since the Audit. Both impressive bodies of work have succeeded, amongst other achievements, in publishing collection-level descriptions of all institutions with relevant holdings relating to their industry. In most respects the scope and ambitions of the shale oil industry survey were substantially more modest, however due to the comparatively small scale and discrete pattern of activity of the shale oil industry, opportunity was taken to seek object-level descriptions of materials in museums and archives wherever possible. An invitation to participate in an on-line shale oil collection survey was issued to all museums and archives in Scotland, certain English institutions, and museums in parts of Australia with historical links to the Scottish shale oil industry . Scottish Museums were approached through an e- mail list provided by Museums Galleries Scotland and through the membership list of the Scottish Transport and Industrial Collections and Knowledge group. Research previously conducted by the museum had identified over a hundred shale-oil or coal-oil enterprises, extending across the central belt of Scotland. In areas where oil works were known to have existed, relevant details of these were included in the invitation to participate. Often a very productive dialogue occurred as a consequence. The vast majority of museums and archives contacted were extremely helpful and cooperative, but where no response was initially received, follow-up e- mail or telephone contact was made with all institutions where there seemed a realistic possibility of them (see appendix one) (see appendix two) Page One

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Page 1: Describing the morphology - survey.scottishshale.co.uksurvey.scottishshale.co.uk/Resources/Describing_the_morphology.pdf · Describing the Morphology of the Surviving Material Heritage

Describing the Morphology of the Surviving Material Heritage associated with the Scottish Shale Oil Industry.

Abstract

The project set out to identify and describe all material from the Scottish shale oil industry that has survived in museum, archive, and reference library collections. Systems of classification were devised and applied to this data in order to characterise and visualise the overall morphology of this surviving heritage. Some preliminary consideration was given to the comparative morphology of individual collections.

Introduction.

Shale oil was an important component of Scotland's heavy industries, and pioneered processes and practices that were subsequently adopted throughout the world. The Bathgate Chemical Works, established in1851 by James Young and partners, arguably represented the first industrial-scale processing of mineral oils anywhere in the world. This gave rise to an industry based on coal oil that briefly operated at sites throughout the Scottish coalfields, and (more significantly,) the shale oil industry centred in West Lothian that operated between 1860 and 1962.

This study forms part of a year-long project conducted by Almond Valley Heritage Trust, and funded by Museums Galleries Scotland and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Full results of the national survey, including object-level descriptions, are to be published through a website (www.scottishshale.co.uk) which should provide a tool of value in directing research and informing collecting activity.

Methodology

Prior to this work no detailed information was available on the extent of the surviving material heritage of the Scottish shale oil industry, as represented by items in museum and archive collections.

Scotland's National Audit of museum collections, published in 2002, was the first comprehensive survey of Scotland's museum collections. The information this provided was not of sufficient detail to distinguish collections relating to specific industries, but has guided subsequent works. The Scottish Textile Heritage Project and the Scottish Coal Collections Survey are two notable industry-specific surveys that have taken place since the Audit. Both impressive bodies of work have succeeded, amongst other achievements, in publishing collection-level descriptions of all institutions with relevant holdings relating to their industry. In most respects the scope and ambitions of the shale oil industry survey were substantially more modest, however due to the comparatively small scale and discrete pattern of activity of the shale oil industry, opportunity was taken to seek object-level descriptions of materials in museums and archives wherever possible.

An invitation to participate in an on-line shale oil collection survey was issued to all museums and archives in Scotland, certain English institutions, and museums in parts of Australia with historical links to the Scottish shale oil industry . Scottish Museums were approached through an e-mail list provided by Museums Galleries Scotland and through the membership list of the Scottish Transport and Industrial Collections and Knowledge group. Research previously conducted by the museum had identified over a hundred shale-oil or coal-oil enterprises, extending across the central belt of Scotland. In areas where oil works were known to have existed, relevant details of these were included in the invitation to participate. Often a very productive dialogue occurred as a consequence. The vast majority of museums and archives contacted were extremely helpful and cooperative, but where no response was initially received, follow-up e-mail or telephone contact was made with all institutions where there seemed a realistic possibility of them

(see appendix one)

(see appendix two)

Page One

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holding shale-associated material. In the case of National Archives of Scotland and the BP Archive at the University of Warwick, information was extracted from an on-line catalogue. Other on-line resources (such as SCRAN) and relevant publications were searched for any holdings that had not been revealed in the survey. By the end of this process, there was a confidence that all significant holdings of relevant material in museums and archives had been identified. Of the 338 organisations surveyed, responses were received from 103 organisations, of which 47 held some material relating to the Scottish shale oil industry. A total of 7,620 collection items were ultimately identified.

Existing object classification systems, such as the Social History and Industrial Classification (SHIC), are not sufficiently detailed to provide a useful tool for classification of shale oil collections. Various institutions have devised detailed classifications for specialist industrial collections (eg coal mining), yet few common methodologies and standards exist. After study of good practice in other subject areas, a classification system specific to the shale oil industry was devised.

The new classification scheme was designed to relate objects to key activities of the shale oil industry rather than providing a taxonomic system to differentiate between the surviving pool of objects. From the outset it was recognised that certain activities would be better represented in collections due to the nature of associated objects (such as their scale, material, or ownership) which has led to their survival.

The principal index of the classification system, applied to all collection items, encompasses “Processes, Practices and Impact.” (see appendix three). This index associates objects to the technical processes or commercial activities of the oil industry, or reflects the community or environmental impact of their operations. All items were mapped to this index using the single most appropriate category.

A second index relates to “Historical Chapter”, intended to illustrate the association between collection items and key trends or episodes in the history of the industry more effectively than a simple date of manufacture or use. chapters were recognised and defined in supporting narrative.

A third index relates to “Geographical Location”. This is based on present day local authority boundaries and is intended to provide a more consistent description of geographical areas of activity than the “location” field in collection records.

A fourth index relates to “Item Type”; classing each item as either an archive item (including paper ephemera), a media item (eg an original photograph, film or sound recording), a three-dimensional museum object (including product samples), or a geological specimen.

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Alm

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Figure One

Occurrence of Shale Oil Items in Collections A plot of the total number of shale-related items in the collection of every institution that responded to the survey. Institutions reporting no holdings are omitted. The term “item” encompasses all archives, media, museum objects and specimens.

Num

ber

of I

tem

s

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Almond Valley

1079 archives708 media

942 objects9 specimens

A

M

O AM

BP Archive2360 archives

64 media

British Geological Survey143 archives

14 media30 objects

60 specimens

A

OS

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M

West Lothian Libraries127 archives

92 media

Fife County Archives183 archives

A

S

NMS Natural Sciences100 specimens

National Archives of Scotland

M

A

461 archives70 media

Hunterian Museum

42 objects302 specimens

SO

NMS Science & Technology8 archives

6 media116 objects

7 specimens

O

Figure Two

Relative Size and Composition of Major Holdings of Items in Museum and Archive Collections

The area of each sector is proportional to the number of items. From a total of 7,620 items, 4,755 were archive items, 1,182 were three-dimensional museum objects, 1,087 were classed as media and 596 were geological specimens.

All collections with containing over 100 relevant items are illustrated. The term “item” encompasses all archives, media, objects and specimens associated with the Scottish shale or coal oil industries.

A

M

O

S

Archives, including records, plans and paper ephemera

Media, including photographs, lantern slides, film and sound recordings

Object: any three-dimensional museum artefact.

Specimen: geological and paleontological samples.

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Figure Three

Distribution of Items against Industry Classification

Each item was mapped against the most appropriate classification in an index describing the “Processes, Practices and Impact” of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry. Graph 3a illustrates the distribution of all items identified in the survey, including those in the Almond Valley Collection. Graph 3b illustrates the Almond Valley collection alone. The term “item” encompasses all archives, media, objects and specimens associated with the Scottish shale or coal oil industries.

1.1.1 Geological maps and publications1.1.2 Mineral and fossil specimens1.1.3 Geologist and prospector's equipment1.1.4 Annotated maps, and bore data1.2.1 Underground mining plans1.2.2 Underground haulage and winding 1.2.3 Underground machinery and services1.2.4 Underground hand tools, lamps and graith 1.2.5 Surface mine layout, buildings and services1.2.6 Opencast mining and other extraction1.3.1 Retort design 1.3.2 Oilworks layout, buildings and services 1.3.3 Breaking and handling of shale1.3.4 Disposal of spent shale1.3.5 Crude oil processing1.3.6 Ammonium sulphate production1.3.7 Internal transport and storage 1.4.1 Refinery layout, buildings and services 1.4.2 Distillation and fractionation1.4.3 Cracking1.4.4 Wax separation and processing1.5.1 Acid production1.5.2 Coal mining1.5.3 Candle and wax product production1.5.4 Brick production1.5.5 Blaes sales1.5.6 Detergent production1.5.7 Forestry for pit props1.5.8 Young’s lamps1.5.9 Engineering workshops1.5.10 Engineering industry and other suppliers1.6.1 Quality control and laboratory processes1.6.2 Experimental plant and processes 1.6.3 Professional journals & technical publications2.1.1 James Young and the origins of the industry2.1.2 Other notable entrepreneurs2.1.3 Shares, capital and investors2.1.4 Company minutes, accounts & finance2.1.5 Licences, patents and litigation2.1.6 Cost statements and production statistics2.1.7 Political and economic influences2.1.8 General office operations 2.2.1 Leases and lets2.2.2 Company housing2.2.3 Public buildings and facilities2.2.4 Agricultural and general estate operations2.2.5 Subsidence, waste and land management2.2.6 Surveyor and drawing office (equipment)2.3.1 Managerial, professional and administrative staff2.3.2 Trades and labour: underground2.3.3 Trades and labour: surface2.3.4 Safety, rescue and accidents: underground 2.3.5 Safety, rescue and accidents: surface2.3.6 Wages, contracts and conditions of employment2.3.7 Labour disputes and redundancies2.3.8 Welfare funds and facilities2.4.1 Bulk transport and storage of products2.4.2 Barrels, cans, containers and packaging2.4.3 Sales offices, agents and distribution depots2.4.4 Advertising and promotional materials2.4.5 Major customers (e.g. NBR, lighthouses)3.1.1 Worker’s representation3.1.2 Occupational health 3.1.3 Personal histories: working lives (e.g. oral histories)3.2.1 Friendly societies and cooperatives3.2.2 Public health (e.g. sewage, drainage)3.2.3 Personal histories: home and community lives3.2.4 Community organisations, sports and pastimes3.2.5 Events, occasions and presentations3.3.1 Emigration and overseas influence3.3.2 Environmental rehabilitation3.3.3 Celebrating and recording shale heritage 3

b. P

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alle

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ale

Oil

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llect

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Plo

t o

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entif

ied

in t

he s

urve

y, in

clud

ing

tho

se fr

om

the

Alm

ond

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ley

Co

llect

ion.

Page Five

Describing the morphology of the surviving material heritage associated with the Scottish shale oil industry.

80

0

60

0

40

0

20

0 00

40

0

20

0

No. of items. No. of items.

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Figure Four

Distribution of Items against Historical Chapter.

Each item was plotted against the most appropriate historical chapter of the shale oil industry. Where records were not sufficiently detailed to make such a judgement, items were classed as “not determined”. The term “item” encompasses all archives, media, objects and specimens associated with the Scottish shale or coal oil industries.

3000Pooled responses : all items from all collections

Almond Valley collection items only

BP Archive collection items only

Jam

es Y

oun

g at

Bat

hgat

e (c

.18

50

- c

.18

64

)

Jam

es Y

oun

g at

Add

iew

ell (

c.1

86

5 -

c.1

87

0)

Co

al S

hale

Ent

erpr

ises

(c.

18

70

- c

.19

00

)

The

Sco

ttis

h O

ilman

ia (

c.1

86

4 -

c.1

87

0)

Shal

e O

il A

dven

ture

rs (

c.1

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0 -

c.1

90

0)

The

Go

lden

Age

(c.

19

00

- c

.19

14

)

Stat

e In

terv

entio

n (c

.19

14

- c

.19

19

)

Dec

line

and

Clo

sure

(c.

19

19

- c

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30

)

A S

trat

egic

Res

our

ce (

c.1

93

0 -

c.1

95

0)

The

Fin

al D

eclin

e (c

.19

50

- c

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90

)

Influ

ence

and

Leg

acy

of t

he In

dust

ry

No

t de

term

ined

2000

1000

0

No

. o

f Ite

ms

3000

2000

1000

0

No

. o

f Ite

ms

3000

2000

1000

0

No

. o

f Ite

ms

Historical Chapter

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Describing the morphology of the surviving material heritage associated with the Scottish shale oil industry.

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Figure Five

Distribution Items against Geographical Area.

Each item was plotted against the most appropriate geographical area where oil was produced or refined. Areas are expressed in terms of present day local authority boundaries. The term “item” encompasses all archives, media, objects and specimens related to Scottish shale or coal oil industries

Cla

ckm

anna

nshi

re

East

Dun

bart

ons

hire

East

Ren

frew

shir

e

Edin

burg

h

Falk

irk

Fife

Gla

sgo

w

Mid

loth

ian

No

rth

Ayr

shir

e

No

rth

Lana

rksh

ire

Ren

frew

shir

e

Sout

h La

nark

shir

e

Stir

ling

Wes

t Lo

thia

n

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0

Pooled responses : all items from all collections

Almond Valley collection items only

BP Archive collection items only

No

. o

f Ite

ms

No

. o

f Ite

ms

No

. o

f Ite

ms

Geographical Area

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Discussion of Results

In association with the survey, a range of background information on the shale industry was made available on line. This reference material helped made clear the scope of the survey and as a consequence all responses to the survey were fully relevant to its objectives.

The survey and associated research led to the identification and characterisation of 7,620 different items held in 47 museum, archive or library collections. Of those 47 institutions, only14 had collections of more than 50 items, 9 of these had collections of more than 100 items, and only 2 of these had collections of more than 600 items.

From the descriptions available, it was possible to classify each item as either archive, media item (eg a photograph, video or sound recording), a three-dimentional museum object, or a geological specimen. This analysis indicated that archives constituted 62.4% of all items; 15.5% were museum objects, 14.3% were media, and 7.8% were geological specimens.

In the case of archives and media, the intention was to include only contemporaneous material, and any items described as a copy were normally excluded from the survey. It seems likely however that in some instances the level of information available may not have been sufficient to exclude some modern copy material.

Of the 4,754 archive items, 49.6% were in the BP Archive, 22.7% were in the Almond Valley collection and9.6% were in the National Archives of Scotland.

Of the 1,184 museum objects, 79.5% were in the Almond Valley Collection, 9.8% in the Science and Technology collection of the National Museums of Scotland, and 3.5% in the University of Glasgow, Hunterian Museum.

Of the 1,087 items classified as media, 65.1% were in the Almond Valley Collection, 8.4% in West Lothian Council’s local history library, and 6.4% in the National Archives of Scotland.

Of the 596 items classified as geological specimens, 50.6% were in the Hunterian Museum collection, 16.7% in the National Museums of Scotland’s Natural Sciences collection, and 10% in the collection of the British Geological Survey.

Development of the “Processes, Practices and Impact” classification drew on a understanding of the key areas of activity and influence associated with the industry. Exploiting this knowledge of the industry, it was possible to map each item identified in the survey against the most relevant classification. Plotting this data shows that most important aspects of the industry are represented, in some form, within collections. The degree to which an activity is represented varies considerably, reflecting a complicated interaction of factors.

The history of the Scottish shale oil industry falls naturally into a number of chapters. It proved simple to map most items identified in the survey against these chapters. As might be expected, the most recent history of the industry is well represented, but much has also survived from the period when the industry was at the height of its importance and renown. Conversely early short-lived, small-scale operations have left little trace in the historical record. The wide public acclaim enjoyed by James Paraffin Young’s pioneering achievements has ensured the survival of important items from the very early days of the industry in long-established collections such as those of the Hunterian Museum, National Museums of Scotland, and the University of Strathclyde Library.

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The geographical associations of surviving items reflect many of the same factors affecting the distribution of items across historical chapter. Very few items survive from those areas where coal oil production took place, even though a few works remained in production until the end of the 19th century. Little more evidence survives from the outlier shalefields at Burntisland, (Fife) and Straiton, (Midlothian). From the start of the 20th century all shale oil production was based within the present boundaries of West Lothian, other than operations at Tarbrax, just across the border in South Lanarkshire.

From the outset it was recognised that there were inevitable limitations to the survey process. The project enjoyed excellent cooperation from all involved, but the level of detailed information respondents were able to provide differed considerably. Differences were also apparent in cataloguing practice, for example an assemblage of material might be considered a single item in some circumstances, or individually enumerated in others. In other instances insufficient information may have been available to distinguish between original archive and media items, and modern copies or published reference materials that rightly lay outside the scope of the survey. Not all organisations have fully documented or easily searchable collection records and it remains possible that some items may consequently have been overlooked. Despite these limitations, the survey provides a fair representation of the morphology of the surviving heritage (i.e. the volume of surviving heritage and areas of strength and weakness in its representation of subjects areas, time periods and geographical regions.)

No account was taken during the survey process, or in the subsequent processing of data, of the value, merit or importance of any item. Every item was given equal weighting. Examining the object level descriptions collated by the survey reveals some “star objects” of undoubted importance to the history of the industry, and other items that appear to have only an incidental association with the shale oil business. Ascribing a relative value or merit to each item would be a highly problematic exercise, requiring subjective judgment that would inevitably be influenced by viewpoint. Rather than attempt such a process, this paper will attempt to provide a broad description of the types of items constituting the surviving material heritage of the industry.

Further Review of Collections

A relatively small proportion of surviving material entered museum and archive collections whilst the industry was still active.

In 1870 James Young’s gifted his collection of rare books and manuscripts on alchemy and early science to the Andersonian Institute to support the Young Chair in Chemistry. This now is included in the University of Strathclyde special collection, which also houses a collection of Young’s notebooks, journals, diaries and personal papers, gifted by his family in 1959.

The Science and Technology collection of the National Museums of Scotland contains a number of shale and oil product samples added to the collection of the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art in 1871. The collection also includes a number of exquisite retort models, constructed for patent demonstration purposes and acquired during the Victorian period, plus a number of other technical models built in the museum’s workshops during the 1920’s. Also some 20th century oil samples, a number of early photographs and technical drawings, and Oakbank No.2, a pioneering electric locomotive acquired on closure of Niddry Castle oilworks in 1959. A promotional product display case and a number of technical drawings are the only significant items added to the National collection since closure of the industry. Oakbank No.2 and two of the retort models are currently on loan to Almond Valley.

The Hunterian Museum at the University of Glasgow houses James Young’s collection of coal, mineral and fossil samples, Young’s microscope, and a catalogue with notes in James Young’s hand, presumably acquired during the Victorian period. The collection also contains a range of oil product samples, probably dating from the early 20th century.

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The collection of British Geological Survey includes their contemporaneous publications related to the shale oil industry, associated glass plate negatives, and a range of mineral and product samples. BGS also hold, on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive, mine abandonment plans, the earliest dating from the 1870’s.

The Natural Sciences collection of the National Museums of Scotland contains a range of mineral samples and oilshale fossils, many acquired c1890 from local collectors who purchased fossils from shale miners. Some of these fossils are currently on loan to Almond Valley.

Very little of relevance survives in long-established local museum collections. Paisley Museum contains a number of contemporaneous coal-shale specimens associated with local oilworks, whilst a magnificent 18ft long slab of Torbanite occupies a stair well at Airdrie library, donated by a benefactor in 1894. South Queensferry museum holds a small collection of miner’s tools and lamps from local shale mines thought to have been acquired during the 1960’s. Once a West Lothian burgh, South Queensferry is now part of the City of Edinburgh.

The National Archives of Scotland house the John Stein Collection; papers of a senior mining manager with Scottish Oils, deposited by his family during the 1980’s. Other than a number of mining plans, little other material in the National Archives are records generated by the shale oil companies, although many aspects of the industry are referred to in estate papers, papers of Linlithgow Sheriff Court and the records of railways, utilities and various suppliers. Papers related to legislation and government intervention in the shale oil industry are held in the National Archives in Kew. The Fife Council Archive Centre hold correspondence files relating to the shale oil operations at Burntisland, whilst a precious handful of documents referring to local coal oil operations are held in North Lanarkshire Council Archives. Small pockets of shale oil related material are found in several other local history and archive centres, but much of this represents publications, copy plans and images rather than primary sources.

The BP archive, housed at the University of Warwick, holds a wealth of official records from the shale oil companies. This represents a large tranche of material, previously housed at Grangemouth Refinery, and stored briefly by the National Archives of Scotland prior to transfer to Warwick c. 2000, and a second tranche that was stored at Pumpherston detergent works until c.2000. The collection includes many of the minute books and company papers of those companies that were merged to form Scottish Oils Ltd, plus a fascinating range of agreements, leases, dispositions and other legal documents covering all aspects of the companies’ activities. Some more detailed correspondence files have survived from certain of the shale companies, along with estate and mine plans, photo albums and much else. A number of shale companies remain as active vehicles for BP operations, consequently some shale-associated documents are not currently included in the public archive.

The Almond Valley collection has been assembled since 1983 through public donation, purchase and as the consequence a close working relationship with BP in Scotland. The collection includes papers, objects and an album associated with James Young, (including a model retort) some of which were donated by the Young family. Donations from others with family associations to the industry range from hand tools and equipment that formed part of the miner’s graith, to technical documents, diaries and plans from the effects of senior managers. Other items has been donated by individuals who recognised their historical importance; for example a large format plan describing the working of the Boghead Coal used by Young’s Bathgate works, and a number of inscribed presentation pieces. A large collection of engineering drawings from the Paisley engineering firm of A.F. Craig illustrate equipment ordered for Scottish oilworks and similar plant and machinery built for export.

A continuing relationship with BP, both through official and personal channels, also contributed much to the collection, particularly as plants have closed and staff retired. Notable assemblages include:

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# Staff ledgers and other records acquired on closure of BP’s Middleton Hall offices. # A large quantity of glass slides, printing blocks, booklets, and other promotional material formerly stored at

Grangemouth refinery. # A range of oil analysis and laboratory equipment, various notices and fittings, and the contents of the

technical library of Pumpherston works acquired following closure of the detergent plant in 1993. # A range of draftsman’s equipment, survey instruments and notebooks previously used in the Middleton

Hall drawing office.# A number oil company seals and seal presses, medals and honours awarded to various Scottish shale oil

companies, including a number of medals from international exhibitions# A collection of product catalogues, brochures and other promotional material from the private Scottish oil

companies.# A large number of architectural drawings from oil companies showing workman’s housing and community

facilities# A horse drawn tanker, restored by BP for promotional purposes during the 1950’s. Also by other routes,

a large steam powered air compressor and smaller steam powered pump, acquired from Pumpherston works during the 1980s

Further material has been added to the Almond Valley collection through purchase. A significant collection of oil lamps manufactured by Young’s company has been assembled, along a representative range of packaging and advertising material. A large collection of estate and mine plans of shale workings was also acquired by purchase. Almond Valley continues to actively develop its collection through purchases and by soliciting donations.

Conclusions

The decline and closure of the shale oil industry took place in an age before the industrial heritage movement became established, and facilities existed for the preservation of large industrial machinery. Consequently the surviving heritage of shale oil is much poorer than other Scottish heavy industries, such as coal-mining, ship-building and railway workshops, that remained active at least until the end of the 20th century. Fortunately models, drawings and other records survive to document the retorting process that was central to shale oil production, and monuments in the landscape continue to inspire interest in the industry.

The surviving material heritage of the industry provides a patchy coverage of the broad range of activities associated with the industry. Many processes of the industry did not involve objects of an appropriate scale, nature or appeal to encourage their survival in museum collections, and these same activities may often be poorly represented through photographs, drawings and documents. In contrast certain types of object are very well represented in collections. Many shale oil companies produced attractive bottled sample sets for marketing purposes which now feature in many collections (e.g. those of the NMS, Hunterian, Glasgow, Almond Valley). A presentation folder of shale oil images, produced by Scottish Oils c 1929 is also well represented in collections (e.g. those at Falkirk, Grangemouth, Almond Valley, NAS, and elsewhere in copy form), while the British Geological Survey’s contemporaneous handbooks “Oilshale of the Lothians”, along with associated photographs and drawings, also make a significant contribution to the survey.

The Almond Valley collection is notable in being the only established with the intention of providing a comprehensive coverage of the industry. It represents the largest part of the surviving heritage of the industry and contains many types of object and archive that are not represented in other collections.

Additionally, talks currently in progress with BP that may see the transfer of much of the shale oil industry archive from the University of Warwick to the Trust’s museum in Livingston, further reinforcing Almond Valley’s status as the National centre for the study of the shale oil industry.

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Appendix One

Preliminary On-Line SurveyThis preliminary questionnaire was circulated to 338 institutions

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Appendix Two

List of Institutions Surveyed.

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Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums

Argyll & Bute Council Archives

Ayrshire Archives Centre

Blantyre Heritage Group

British Film Institute National Archive

Caithness Horizons

Clackmannanshire Council Libraries & ArchivesClackmannanshire Council Museum & Heritage Service

Cousland Smiddy Trust

Dalbeattie Museum Trust Ltd

Dollar Museum Trust

Dunkeld Cathedral Chapter House Museum

Dunoon Castle House MuseumEast Ayrshire Council Central Library

East Dunbartonshire Museums / ArchivesEast Lothian Council Archives & Local History Centre

Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh City Council Libraries

Elgin Museum

Garioch Heritage SocietyGeneral Register for Scotland

Aberdeen City ArchivesAberdeen City Council LibrariesAberdeenshire Farming MuseumAbernethy MuseumAdam Smith College LibraryAikwood Tower

Andrew Carnegie Birthplace MuseumAngus ArchivesAngus Council MuseumsArchaeolink Prehistory Park

Argyll & Bute Council LibrariesArgyll & Bute Council Museums ServiceArgyll & Sutherland Highlanders Regimental MuseumArran Heritage MuseumAtholl Country Life MuseumAuchindrain MuseumAuld Sköll MuseumAustralian ArchivesAustralian Museum

Bernera MuseumBig Pit: National Coal Museum Wales)Biggar Museum TrustBlack Watch - The Museum of The Black WatchBlairs Museum

Blue Mountains City Library, New South Wales, AustraliaBowhill House Bridgeton Bus GarageBright Water Visitor Centre

British Golf Museum

Burns Cottage Museum

Bute Museum

Christian Heritage Museum

Clan Cameron MuseumClan Macpherson House & MuseumClydebank Museum

Crail Museum & Heritage CentreCrawfordjohn Heritage VentureCreetown Exhibition CentreCreetown Gem Rock MuseumCromarty Courthouse

Dalgarven MillDalmellington & District Conservation TrustDevil's Porridge ExhibitionDingwall Museum

Douglas Heritage Museum TrustDrummond Castle Dukes Wood Oil MuseumDumfries & Galloway ArchivesDumfries & Galloway Aviation MuseumDumfries & Galloway College (UWS) LibraryDumfries & Galloway Council Library ServicesDumfries & Galloway Museums ServiceDunbeath Heritage CentreDunblane MuseumDundee City ArchivesDundee City Council LibrariesDundee City Council Local Studies LibraryDundee City Council, Leisure & Arts DeptDundee Heritage TrustDundee University Archives [email protected] Heritage Trust – Abbot House

Dunoon & Cowal Heritage Centre

East Ayrshire Museums & Arts Service

East Lothian Council Library Service

East Renfrewshire Council Local History Library

Edinburgh College of ArtEdinburgh’s Telford CollegeElgin Library (Central Moray Library)

Falkirk Council Library Services

Fetlar Interpretive CentreFife Contemporary Art & Craft

sFife Folk MuseumFife Miners Community Culture Group – Fife Mining MuseumFife Mining Heritage SocietyForth Bridges Visitor Centre MuseumForth Valley CollegeFraserburgh Heritage CentreGairloch Heritage Museum

Glasgow Caledonian University Library

Almond Valley Heritage Trust

Bennie Museum Trust

British Geological Survey

British Library

Burntisland Heritage Trust

East Lothian Museums Service

Edinburgh City Museums & Art Galleries

Falkirk Council Museums & Archives

Fife Council Archive CentreFife Council Museums & Librarie

Glasgow Caledonian University Research Collections

Glasgow City Council Libraries, Information & Learning

Glasgow Police MuseumGlasgow Print Studio & GalleryGlasgow School of ArtGlasgow School of Art

Glasgow Women's LibraryGlencoe & North Lorn Folk MuseumGlenesk Folk MuseumGlenfinnan Station MuseumGordon Highlanders Regimental MuseumGrampian Hospitals Art Trust

Grantown Museum & Heritage CentreGroam House MuseumHelmsdale Heritage SocietyHere We Are

Hibernian Football Club MuseumHighland Council ArchiveHighland Council LibrariesHighland Museum of ChildhoodHirsel Homestead Museum & Craft CentreHistoric ScotlandHistorylinks Museum

Insch Connection MuseumInveraray Jail & County CourtInverclyde Council LibrariesInverclyde Council Local StudiesInverness Museum & Art Gallery, Highland CouncilIonad Naomh Moluag

John Muir's BirthplaceJohn Paul Jones Birthplace MuseumJohn Wheatley College LibraryKilmartin House Museum of Ancient CultureLaing MuseumLargs Museum

Lauriston CastleLeadhills & Wanlockhead Railway

Lloyds Banking Group ArchivesMacDougall CollectionMallaig Heritage CentreMcLean Museum & Art Gallery

Moffat Museum TrustMontrose Air Station Heritage Centre

Morita Museum of Fine ArtMotoring Heritage CentreMull MuseumMuseum of CommunicationMuseum of FireMuseum of Islay LifeMuseum of Lead MiningMuseum of Piping, College of PipingMuseum of Scottish LighthousesMuseum of the IslesMuseum on the MoundMuthill Village MuseumMyreton Motor MuseumNairn MuseumNapier University Library

National Coal Mining Museum for England

National Trust for ScotlandNess Heritage CentreNewbattle Abbey College Library

Newton Stewart Museum

North Glasgow College LibraryNorth Highland Archive

Oban War & Peace MuseumOld Haa MuseumOld School Museum

Orkney Wireless Museum

Paxton HousePeople's Palace & Winter Gardens

Perth & Kinross Council LibrariesPerth College LibraryPerth Museum & Art GalleryPier Arts CentrePitlochry & Moulin Heritage CentrePortsoy Salmon Bothy

Glasgow City Archives & Special Collections

Glasgow University Archives (includes Scottish Business Archive)

Hopetoun House

Jewel & Esk Valley College Library

Larkhall Heritage Group

Linlithgow Union Canal Society

Moray Council MuseumsMoray Heritage Centre

National Co-operative Archive - ScottishMid.

National Gallery of Scotland

Newnes Plateau – Kerosene Shale Research

North Ayrshire Council Museums Service

Orkney Library, Archive & Museum

Perth & Kinross Archives

Powerhouse Museum

Glasgow Museums

Grampian Transport MuseumGrangemouth Heritage Trust

Heriot-Watt University – Archive, Records Management & Museums Heriot-Watt University Library

Linlithgow Story, Linlithgow Heritage Trust

Midlothian Council Library Service [Local Studies] & Archives

National Archives of ScotlandNational Archives of the United Kingdom

National Library of ScotlandNational Museums of Scotland Natural SciencesNational Museums of Scotland Science & TechnologyNational Museums of Scotland; Scottish Life Archive

North Ayrshire Council Local History Library

North Lanarkshire ArchivesNorth Lanarkshire Council LibrariesNorth Lanarkshire Council Museums & Heritage Section

Paisley Museum & Art Galleries, Renfrewshire Council

Prestongrange Industrial Heritage MuseumProvost Skene's HouseQuarriers Museum

Quendale Watermill & Visitor Attraction

Regimental Museum of The Highlanders (Queen's Own Highlanders)Renfrewshire Council Libraries

Ross of Mull Historical CentreRosslyn Chapel

Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of GlasgowRoyal Highland Fusiliers Regimental MuseumRoyal Scots Dragoon Guards MuseumRoyal Scots Regimental MuseumRoyal Scottish Academy

Scottish Borders Council

Scottish Football MuseumScottish Jewish Archives Centre

Scottish Rugby Union plcScottish Traction Engine SocietyScottish Vintage Bus MuseumSession Cottage MuseumShetland LibraryShetland Museum & ArchivesShetland Textile Working MuseumSimmo's Museum, Glen DavisSma' Shot Cottages

South Ayrshire Council – The Scottish & Local History Library

St Andrews Preservation Trust MuseumSt Andrews University – Museums ServiceSt Andrews University LibrarySt Andrews University Library St Peter's Heritage Centre

Stirling Smith Art Gallery & MuseumStirling University Art Collection

Strathnaver MuseumStrathspey Steam RailwayStromness MuseumTaigh ChearsabhaghTaigh Tasgaidh Chill DonnainTain & District MuseumTangwick Haa MuseumTarbat Discovery CentreThe Art Extraordinary GalleryThe Grand Lodge of ScotlandThe Old Post Office MuseumThe Robert Gordon University Library

The Royal Yacht BritanniaThe Scottish Screen ArchiveThe Scottish Slate Islands Heritage Trust

The Tall Ship at Glasgow HarbourThirlestane CastleTigh HughagTimespanTrimontium MuseumUig MuseumUllapool Museum & Visitor Centre

University of Aberdeen Library

University of Abertay LibraryUniversity of Dundee Library

University of Edinburgh LibraryUniversity of Edinburgh Museums & Galleries ServiceUniversity of Edinburgh Special Collections

Unst Boat HavenUnst Heritage CentreWaverley Route Heritage AssociationWest Dunbartonshire – Educational & Cultural ServicesWest Dunbartonshire Council ArchivesWest Dunbartonshire Council LibraryWest Highland MuseumWest Kilbride Museum

Western Isles Council LibraryWhithorn - Cradle of Christianity

Queen Margaret University Library

Scottish Borders Archive & Local History Centre

Scottish Fisheries Museum

Scottish Maritime Museum

South Ayrshire Council Museum Service

South Lanarkshire Council ArchivesSouth Lanarkshire Council Libraries – Local history East KilbrideSouth Lanarkshire Council Libraries – Local history Hamilton

South Lanarkshire Council Museums Service

Stevenson College Edinburgh LibraryStirling Council Archives

Stirling University LibraryStirling University Library & Special CollectionsStonehouse Heritage Group

The State Records Authority of New South Wales

University of Aberdeen Marischal Museum

University of Dundee Museum Services

University of the West of Scotland Special Collections & Archives

West Lothian College Library

Wick Heritage Museum

RCAHMS

Renfrewshire Council Local Studies Library

Royal Burgh of Lanark Museum Trust

Scottish Mining MuseumScottish National Portrait GalleryScottish Railway Preservation Society – Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway

South Lanarkshire Council Libraries – Local history Lanark

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh – Surgeons' Hall Museum

University of Aberdeen Special Libraries & Archives

University of Edinburgh Cockburn Museum

University of Glasgow, Hunterian MuseumUniversity of Strathclyde Special Collections

University of Warwick BP Archive

West Lothian Council Archives & Records CentreWest Lothian Council Local History LibraryWest Lothian Council Museums Service

Stirling Council Libraries

University of Aberdeen – Geology Department Museum

Institutions that responded and hold relevant material are marked in redInstitutions that responded and do not hold relevant material are marked in blue

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1.1.1 Geological maps and publications1.1.2 Mineral and fossil specimens1.1.3 Geologist and prospector's equipment1.1.4 Annotated maps, and bore data1.2.1 Underground mining plans1.2.2 Underground haulage and winding (manual, horse power, electric)1.2.3 Underground machinery and services (incl. ventilation, pumping, communication, lighting)1.2.4 Underground hand tools, lamps and graith (includes explosives, helmets, food / drink)1.2.5 Surface mine layout, buildings and services (includes plans)1.2.6 Opencast mining and other extraction1.3.1 Retort design (e.g. technical drawings, for patents see Commercial Processes)1.3.2 Oilworks layout, buildings and services (e.g. compressed air, cooling, includes general images)1.3.3 Breaking and handling of shale (e.g. crushers)1.3.4 Disposal of spent shale1.3.5 Crude oil processing1.3.6 Ammonium sulphate production1.3.7 Internal transport and storage (e.g. aerial haulage)1.4.1 Refinery layout, buildings and services (e.g. compressed air, cooling, includes general images)1.4.2 Distillation and fractionation (e.g. coking / continuous stills)1.4.3 Cracking1.4.4 Wax separation and processing (includes refrigeration plant, separators, sweating and filter presses)1.5.1 Acid production1.5.2 Coal mining1.5.3 Candle and wax product production1.5.4 Brick production1.5.5 Blaes sales1.5.6 Detergent production1.5.7 Forestry for pit props1.5.8 Young’s lamps1.5.9 Engineering workshops1.5.10 Engineering industry and other suppliers (e.g. AF Craig)1.6.1 Quality control and laboratory processes1.6.2 Experimental plant and processes (e.g. experimental retorts, testing shale productivity)1.6.3 Professional journals & technical publications

2.1.1 James Young and the origins of the industry2.1.2 Other notable entrepreneurs (e.g. Henderson, the Frasers etc)2.1.3 Shares, capital and investors2.1.4 Company minutes, accounts and financial performance2.1.5 Licences, patents and litigation2.1.6 Cost statements and production statistics2.1.7 Political and economic influences2.1.8 General office operations 2.2.1 Leases and lets2.2.2 Company housing2.2.3 Public buildings and facilities2.2.4 Agricultural and general estate operations2.2.5 Subsidence, waste and land management2.2.6 Surveyor and drawing office (equipment)2.3.1 Managerial, professional and administrative staff2.3.2 Trades and labour: underground2.3.3 Trades and labour: surface2.3.4 Safety, rescue and accidents: underground (includes signage, personal protective equipment) 2.3.5 Safety, rescue and accidents: surface (includes signage, WW1 and WW2 safety related activities)2.3.6 Wages, contracts and conditions of employment (includes tally and timekeeping systems)2.3.7 Labour disputes and redundancies2.3.8 Welfare funds and facilities2.4.1 Bulk transport and storage of products2.4.2 Barrels, cans, containers and packaging2.4.3 Sales offices, agents and distribution depots2.4.4 Advertising and promotional materials2.4.5 Major customers (e.g. railways, lighthouses)

3.1.1 Worker’s representation3.1.2 Occupational health 3.1.3 Personal histories: working lives (e.g. oral histories)3.2.1 Friendly societies and cooperatives3.2.2 Public health (e.g. sewage, drainage)3.2.3 Personal histories: home and community lives (e.g. oral histories, personal items)3.2.4 Community organisations, sports and pastimes3.2.5 Events, occasions and presentations (includes objects carved from shale)3.3.1 Emigration and overseas influence3.3.2 Environmental rehabilitation3.3.3 Celebrating and recording shale heritage

1.1 Shale Geology and Prospecting

1.2 Shale Mining

1.3 Crude Oil Production

1.4 Crude Oil Processing

1.5 Ancillary Processes

1.6 Testing and Quality Control

2.1 Companies and Capital

2.2 Estate Management

2.3 Personnel Management

2.4 Distribution and Marketing

3.1 The Workplace

3.2 Home and Community

3.3 Influence and Legacy

Tech

nica

l Pro

cess

esC

om

mer

cial

Pra

ctic

esIn

fluen

ceAppendix Three

Detailed Industry ClassificationEncompassing Processes, Practices and Influence.

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