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OIL RETORT HOUSE

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1057429
Date first listed:: 16-Nov-1984
List Entry Name:: OIL RETORT HOUSE
Statutory Address:: OIL RETORT HOUSE

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1057429
Date first listed:: 16-Nov-1984
List Entry Name:: OIL RETORT HOUSE
Statutory Address 1:: OIL RETORT HOUSE

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: OIL RETORT HOUSE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Somerset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Kilve
National Grid Reference:: ST 14452 44313

Details

ST14SW 5/125

KILVE CP KILVE PILL Oil Retort House

GII Oil retort house.Circa 1924.Red brick,irregular bond,and cast iron.Roughly square in plan,a rectangular block about four metres high and 2.15x2.45 metres square.Flat roofed,divided by recessed string course with inset cast iron bar on East front,corbelled projection below on all fronts,irregularly placed square ventilation holes,majority on East and West fronts;segmental headed loading opening on West front at ground floor level with cut off pipe above,angled segmental headed opening on North front above low external stepped plinth partially damaged.Surrmounted by cast iron chimney with flange attached on West side,thought to have been an attachment to carry away and condense the vapours,in all about five metres high.In 1916 it was discovered that the shale beds of the North Somerset coast were rich in oil and in 1924 Dr Forbes-Leslie founded the Shaline Company to exploit them.This retort house is thought to be the first structure erected here for the conversion of shale to oil but the company was unable to raise sufficient capital and this is now all that remains of the anticipated Somerset oil boom.Listed primarily for historical interest.(Country Life October 26,1967;photograph in NMR).

Listing NGR: ST1445244313

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 265166
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
'Country Life' in 26 October, (1967)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.