Hardstoft - the home of the first British Mainland oilwell.
It was on the night of 27th May 1919, at a depth of 3070 feet that oil was struck here for the first time, and between that date and December 1927, 2,500 tons of oil were produced (about 20,000 U.S barrels). At an average of 6 barrels a day, production compared favourably with contemporary US oil wells of the period.
The original drilling of the wells was covred by the defence of the Realm Act in January 1918, which gave the Government or its agents right of access to drill for oil, but the question of the ownership of that oil was not resolved for some years.
In March 1923 the Hardstoft Oil Well was taken over by the Duke of Devonshire (who owned the mineral rights and the land on which the well was sunk). In fact to this day the Duke remains as the only person in the UK to have the rights to the oil under his land, all others being owned by the Government.
Production continued until July 1945, after which it was deemed enviable. The well was finally capped and the plant and houses demolished.
In 1977 a Mr Schofield acquired the site and developed a nursery and garden centre, where today will be seen an array of premium trees, shrubs herbaceous and bedding plants. The well of the Hardstoft No 1 well still, to this day, seeps a little 'Tibshelf Crude' and the site retains its historical tie as the 'Oilwells Nursery' in the ownership of the said P Schofield. All however that remains of the plant is a collecting tank.
The Herb Garden was first opened in 1983, and since then it has grown to become one of the foremost herb gardens in the country. Visitors can wander through this peaceful rural herb garden and enjoy the scents and flavours there, thus enabling people to appreciate the size and habit of any plants they may wish to purchase.
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