Skip to main content

‘Beginning and the end of the Lewis Chemical Works', a detailed account written by D Morison, former foreman of the plant, of its operation from 1857 to 1874.

 Item
Identifier: MS.9586

Scope and Contents

The Lewis Chemical Works was established by Sir James Matheson, proprietor of Lewis, to distil tar and paraffin oils from the abundant local peat. Sited above the south side of the River Creed, near Stornoway, it suffered, according to Morison's account, from incompetent management, lack of expert supervision, and peculation by imported employees, accumulating financial losses which led to closure in 1874.

Seven line drawings and plans (folios 2, 39, 40, 43, 47, 50, 61) are included in the volume.

Dates

  • Creation: 1895.

Conditions Governing Access

Normal access conditions apply.

Conditions Governing Use

Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.

Extent

61 Leaves ; Quarto.

Language of Materials

Undetermined

Arrangement

61 folios.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Presented, 1967, by D R Morrison, Kingussie.

Bibliography

With the exception of the drawings, the complete text has been published by T I Rae in ‘Scottish industrial history; a miscellany’, ‘Scottish History Society’ (1978), pages 182-212.
Title
National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
Author
National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
Description rules
International Standard for Archival Description - General
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository

Contact:
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700