Oakbank
Village
coordinates:
55°52'59.53"N,
3°28'25.94"W
location: on minor road,
less than a mile from East Calder, West Lothian
former parish: Kirknewton
current
status:
site cleared (other than bowling club and community hall)
by c.1985? , now rough ground.
date
constructed: from c.1870?
owner/builder: Oakbank Oil
Co.
Oakbank
Village lies to the south of Mid Calder, about one mile
distant. There are some 165 houses in Oakbank belonging
to the Oakbank Oil Company. These houses are in rows, built
of brick, and consist of room and kitchen, or kitchen and
attic. There are three single-apartment houses, but two
of them were empty when we visited the village.
All
these houses have coal-cellars, and there are wash-houses
for every four tenants. The water is got from stand-pipes.
Ash-pipes and privies are provided. A few houses have gardens.
The rental is 2s. per week, inclusive of local and county
rates. The Company provide iron frames for the beds. We
understand that water-closets are likely to be provided
for these houses at an early date.An Institute, bowling
green, and football pitch are made good use of by the workmen,
for which they pay a small subscription weekly. There are
190 houses in Oakbank, and 240 in East Calder, with an approximate
population of 1950 persons.
Theodore
K. Irvine, Report on the Housing Conditions in the Scottish
Shale Field, 1914.
Oakbank
Village, looking south, c.1910
South end of village, looking North
Oakbank, viewed from the bing.
Site
of Oakbank village, looking North from the former community
hall. October 2009
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