After his patents expired in 1864,[5] in 1865 Young bought out his business partners at the Bathgate-based chemical works, and choose to build a larger factory at Addiewell, due to its location on the Breich river.

Finding clay beneath the soil, he built a brickworks, allowing him to greatly reduce construction costs.

Laid out on the principles set out by Cadbury at Bournville, and developed mainly between 1865 and 1870, a public school was built with accommodation for 327 children.

Employing 700 workers, Young found that the heavily polluted river could not be used for production purposes, and so was forced to drive his own water wells.

[11] Due to the volume of materials required to enable the works, Young in part sponsored the Caledonian Railway's Cleland and Midcalder Line.

[4] Although the nearby Woodmuir colliery had supplied coal to the works, its workforce was excluded from living in the village until Young sold the company.

[7] The paraffin works were due to close pre-World War II, but were saved by the onset of hostilities by virtue of reducing imports.