There were five very large underground tanks here, just the hollow remains now. There were another five inland of this site, they were removed but that field is level so not sure what happened to the holes in the ground - it has been suggest that this group of tanks was never completed. There are long lengths of flexible piping lying around the site.
There were more tanks in a field about half a mile North East of the main site, in the field centred on NS 2296 4506. Some of the original fencing survives and the group is very uneven and not cultivated from when the tanks were removed.
A short distance North West up the road from there is a compound with a small building, this could be associated with the site (NS 2287 4535)
A pipeline runs from Ardrossan where there was a harbour and oil refinery.
Petrol or Aviation Fuel was transferred into cans in a large well ventilated, there are several smaller mounded tanks which appear to have been used for the patrol / aviation fuel. The main railway runs nearby and has a small siding for this depot.
ARDROSSAN FACTORY’S WAR RECORD
During the war, the Ardrossan refinery of the Shell Refining and Marketing Company Limited handled about one-and-a-half millions tons of oil. In addition, the Company operated a can factory erected for the Air Ministry at Inches Road and another one at Glenfoot erected for the War Office. Under their charge also was camouflaged underground storage for oil, built at Montfode, both for the Air Ministry and the Ministry of Supply. The Scotsman, 17 October 1945
I have added some of my own photographs, they are quite old so not as good as I would like.
References:
- Canmore ID 158945
- RAILSCOT - Montfode Fuel Depot Sidings.
- Threetowners - Montfode Fuel Depot
- Secret Scotland - Montfode Fuel Depot
