My Area: Deans, Seafield & Livingston
The rocks beneath the centre of Livingston are volcanic in origin and therefore do not contain any oil shale. This stable foundation was one reason for choosing Livingston as the site for a new town. Seams of shale were found in the western parts of the area; notably in Deans and Seafield.
The Deans oil works were opened in 1884 by the West Lothian Oil Company. Houses were built for workers at Deans Row. The company went bankrupt and the site lay empty until taken over by the Pumpherston Oil Company in 1896. The Pumpherston Oil Company rebuilt the works to supply crude oil to their Pumpherston refinery. New mines were established and the new village of Livingston Station was constructed to house the workers and their families. Deans oil works remained in operation until 1949.
Seafield oil works were established in 1874, and were operated for a period by the Bathgate Oil Company until that company went bankrupt. As at Deans, the Pumpherston Oil Company bought the site and redeveloped the works to supply crude oil to their Pumpherston refinery. New mines were driven and additional housing constructed at Seafield. The Seafield oil works continued in operation until 1926.
Two other mines existed in the area now covered by Livingston:
Youngs Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Co. operated a mine at Alderstone to supply shale to their Addiewell works.
The Oakbank Oil Company operated a mine at Newfarm, Dedridge to supply shale to their Oakbank Oil Works. The shale was transported by an overhead ropeway. Miner's housing was constructed at Newfarm.