What is the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse Brick Wall?
The Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse Brick Wall (旧紐育スタンダード石油会社倉庫煉瓦塀, Kyū Nyūyōku Sutandādo Sekiyu Gaisha Sōko Renga-bei) is a brick boundary wall built around 1905 in Kanegasaki-cho, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2009.
The Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse Brick Wall follows the north, east and south edges of the warehouse plot, which is bounded by roads, for a total length of 92 m. It stands 2.5 m high. The national database dates it to about 1905, the same period as the two warehouses.
Why the Brick Wall was registered
The Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse Brick Wall was registered for contributing to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs values it because, together with the warehouses, it preserves the look of the old harbor district.
The Meiji-era brick still runs along three sides of the plot, so the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse Brick Wall and the buildings together show how an oil company's depot presented itself to the street.
What to look for along the Brick Wall
The bricks are laid in English bond, like the warehouses, with courses of long faces and short ends alternating. The top three courses step out a little at a time to form a small ledge, and the very top is finished with mortar. Pushing the head of the wall outward was probably meant to keep rainwater from running down its face.
Buttresses project from the wall at intervals of 10 to 15 m. These brick piers stand at right angles to the wall and keep a 2.5 m barrier from toppling. Follow them as you walk and you will notice that the spacing is not quite regular.
Each of the three sides has a single opening at its center. Walk all three sides of the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse Brick Wall and check the corbelled top, the buttresses and the openings in turn, and the logic of the 92 m enclosure becomes clear.
Visiting the Brick Wall
Because the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse Brick Wall stands on the edge of the property, its outer face can be seen from the surrounding roads at no charge. The buttresses and the stepped top are easier to read from an angle along the wall than straight on.
The inner face can be seen for free from within the grounds of the Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse. Watch for traffic on the roads, and do not climb on the wall or damage the bricks. Directions to the site are on the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse page.
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Q&A
- When was the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse Brick Wall built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to around 1905, the same time as the two warehouses. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on January 8, 2009.
- How long and how tall is the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse Brick Wall?
- It is 92 m long in total and 2.5 m high, running along the north, east and south sides of the plot.
- What are the main features of the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse Brick Wall?
- It is laid in English bond, with the top three courses stepped outward and a mortar finish on top. Buttresses project every 10 to 15 m, and each side has an opening at its center.
- Why is the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse Brick Wall a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered for contributing to the historic landscape of the country, as part of the old harbor scene together with the warehouses.
- Can I see the Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse Brick Wall?
- Yes. The outer face is visible from the surrounding roads and the inner face from within the grounds of the Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse, both free of charge. Please do not climb on the wall.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse Brick Wall |
|---|---|
| Location | 16-1 Kanegasaki-cho, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered January 8, 2009 |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | 2.5 m high, 92 m in total length |
| Owner | Tsuruga City |
| Public Access | Open (exterior freely viewable) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: 旧紐育スタンダード石油会社倉庫煉瓦塀
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007481
- Cultural Heritage Online: 旧紐育スタンダード石油会社倉庫煉瓦塀
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/187383
- Japan Heritage Portal (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Former Standard Oil Company of New York Warehouse
- https://japan-heritage.bunka.go.jp/ja/culturalproperties/result/4997/
- Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse: Facility Guide
- https://tsuruga-akarenga.jp/modules/info/index.php?action=PageView&page_id=6
- Japan National Tourism Organization: Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse
- https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1378/
Last verified: 2026.10.06
