East Wemyss, East Wemyss And Buckhaven Gas Works

NT39NW 20 3475 9738

NT 3470 9740 This industrial site consists of brick foundations (bricks marked ?Bowman and Co?) laid out and levelled to the ground, a concrete circular basin, remains of a brick building structure in the eroding face, possibly the foundations of houses for the gasworks staff, an outer sea defence wall, and several stone boundary walls. The remains originate from the East Wemyss Gas Works which dates to the 19th century and was in use well into the 20th century. The existing features run parallel to the coastline and extend between 40?100m along it. Associated sites include Gasworks Cave (NT39NW 13) which was located during the building of a gasometer in the 19th century where investigations identified signs of human habitation but no remains of wall carvings.

Sponsor: Historic Scotland.

I Oxley 1996d.

The site is at particular risk from erosion by the sea, especially during high tides and easterly winds. The sea defence wall was in a very poor condition when the site was surveyed, and there was a breach in the wall. In addition vandalism is also a threat to the site.

This site started producing gas for the locality in 1846, supplying Eastt Wemyss, Buckhaven and Methil. In 1922 the gasworks was incorporated into a bigger company and from then on the site was used to store gas only. By the 1950s the buildings of the gasworks were in ruins. Part of the works were demolished in the 1950s and the gasometer and dwelling houses were demolished in the 1960s.

A Wood 1997.