![Image](http://www.scotcities.com/cathcart/netherlee_retort.jpg)
I discovered this strange structure on the opposite bank of the river to the Netherlee Print and Dye Works. I then did a bit of investigation to update my “White Cart Walkway” web page http://www.scotcities.com/cathcart/whitecartwalk.htm . Turns out that it is the well preserved remains of a “Kirk's vertical retort” used for the extraction of oil, gas and useful chemicals from the black shale The production process is fully described in the web page.
![Image](http://www.scotcities.com/cathcart/vertical_retort.gif)
The various fractions provided the local industries along the riverbank with oil for the cleaning and lubrication of plant and machinery as well as synthetic aniline dyes for the textile mills downstream at Pollokshaws described in my http://www.scotcities.com/cathcart/pollokshaws_auldhouse.htm page.
![Image](http://www.scotcities.com/cathcart/coalshale_slab.jpg)
I found this huge slab of black shale lying on the river bed when the water level was particularly low. Too big to take home but I did recover some loose fragments lying on the riverside.
![Image](http://www.scotcities.com/cathcart/cathcart_shale.jpg)
Strange that there is no mention of this industry and the surviving associated plant at the online databases of any of the bodies you would expect to have an interest, such as the West of Scotland Archaeology Service , Historic Scotland, RCAHMS or Glasgow City Council ?