The new Esso Refinery, Fawley, Hampshire, UK ; a photographic survey : Esso Petroleum Ltd., London, 1951
A photographuc survey showing the site, development and construction of the new Fawley Refinery of Esso Petroleum that opened on 14 September 1951. Printed by the Anvil Press it includes photography commissioned by the company from a variety of sources inlcuding Atlas Photography, William Martin Photographic Services of Southampton, E C Arnold, H R Clayton and Studio Sun.
The refinery site had seen construction start in July 1949 and deliver to production in 27 months was quite an achievement. The premise behind this investment was given as two-fold. The increased post-war consumption of oil and by-products as well as the need for the UK to preseve its sterling reserves; previously many of the products to be produced at the refinery had been imported and the new plants allowed the UK to move towards self-sufficiency in oil refining and products. The book notes that Fawley, using crude oil from within the Middle East sterling supply areas, would 'save' the UK economy $100,000,000 pa. Although construction was a UK affair, much of the technological 'know how', in terms of setting up and running specialised processes, was imported from the US and Esso's parent companies. At least 60 specialist US workers were present underpinning the £37.5 million scheme of work.
It was opened by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Clement Atlee, and the refinery is still in use by Esso, now part of ExxonMobil. The history of refining at Fawley, convieniently sited to the waters of the Solent, goes back to 1925 when the Atlantic, Gulf and West Indies Oil Company first built a small plant.
The new Esso Refinery, Fawley, Hampshire, UK ; a photographic survey : Esso Petroleum Ltd., London, 1951
A photographuc survey showing the site, development and construction of the new Fawley Refinery of Esso Petroleum that opened on 14 September 1951. Printed by the Anvil Press it includes photography commissioned by the company from a variety of sources inlcuding Atlas Photography, William Martin Photographic Services of Southampton, E C Arnold, H R Clayton and Studio Sun.
The refinery site had seen construction start in July 1949 and deliver to production in 27 months was quite an achievement. The premise behind this investment was given as two-fold. The increased post-war consumption of oil and by-products as well as the need for the UK to preseve its sterling reserves; previously many of the products to be produced at the refinery had been imported and the new plants allowed the UK to move towards self-sufficiency in oil refining and products. The book notes that Fawley, using crude oil from within the Middle East sterling supply areas, would 'save' the UK economy $100,000,000 pa. Although construction was a UK affair, much of the technological 'know how', in terms of setting up and running specialised processes, was imported from the US and Esso's parent companies. At least 60 specialist US workers were present underpinning the £37.5 million scheme of work.
It was opened by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Clement Atlee, and the refinery is still in use by Esso, now part of ExxonMobil. The history of refining at Fawley, convieniently sited to the waters of the Solent, goes back to 1925 when the Atlantic, Gulf and West Indies Oil Company first built a small plant.