56) Redhill Gas Holder Station – Hooley Lane – 2 Holders
I couldn’t find any history for this one at all, sorry kids.
What I can tell you though is Redhill gas holder station consists of one frame type holder and one large pancake holder. Located opposite a busy shop it wasn’t a hard one to get into, we waited for a gap in the foot traffic and just bundled over the wall avoiding the ancient barbed wire.
Things were going swimmingly, well they were until we got three quarters of the way up, when I noticed a police helicopter with its search light. Ooooo bugger. We figured if they were coming for us we might as well get to the top at least. In the end we spent a fair while up here watching the helicopter look for whatever it was looking for over the main town.
57) Tonbridge Gasworks – Vale Road – 2 Holders
Gas was the first of the public utilities to be established in Tonbridge. In the 1830s and within the next 70 years the others all followed. All were dependent on developments in technology as well as on local initiative - or in the case of sewerage. The lack of it.
The Gasworks and Water Works were started by private companies, whereas the Sewage Treatment Works and Electric Light works were the responsibility of the local authority.
Tonbridge Gas Company was established in 1836 for the purpose of lighting the streets. The first gasworks was between Medway Wharf Road and the river, at the west end of Old Cannon Wharf. Coal was delivered by barge and roasted in closed ovens to produce gas which was piped to lamps in the High Street, Bordyke and East Street. The first lighting of these, on the evening of 12th November 1836, was an occasion for public celebration. Lamplighters lit and extinguished the lamps. Initially only used during the winter months. Gas was only produced in the evenings, and for a few days around full moon the lamps were not lit at all.
By 1856 the Company was supplying gas for street lamps and private consumers, including Tonbridge School and the Parish Church. Street-lighting reached Priory Street, Lavender Hill and Primrose Hill in 1865, and the Pinnacles in Shipbourne Road only in 1897. Lamps were initially either of the 'Argand' or 'bats-wing' type, in which the light came directly from the flame itself Incandescent mantles, which gave much brighter light, were tried out in two lamps on the Big Bridge in 189S , and subsequently widely adopted. Gas street-lamps, now converted for electricity, survive on the Big Bridge and Little Bridge in the High Street, and probably elsewhere in the town. New gas street lamps were still being installed, in places not yet on the electricity mains, as late as 1923, and there were still 28 gas streetlamps lamps in use in various parts of the town in 1933.
In addition to lighting gas was also in use as an industrial power source by the 1890s, fuelling gas-powered engines that were more convenient than steam engines for smaller-scale applications. Baltic Saw Mills considered installing a 12 or 16 horse power gas engine, and another was proposed for the new Quarry Hill brickworks. Tonbridge School installed a gas-engine in 1894 to drive its electric generator, and the Tonbridge Free Press later used one to replace human labour on its presses.
Dramatic growth in the use of gas for domestic cooking and heating did not come until the 20th century, by which time gas was available 24 hours a day. In 1927, for example, a record 324 cookers, 30 1 fires and 66 water-heaters were installed. For 100 years from 1836 demand for gas increased every year, requiring frequent enlargement of the gasworks and laying of bigger pipes. The first expansion, in 1864, was southwards, onto land between Walters Farm Road and the gasworks stream, and one building still survives on this site. Subsequent expansion was along the river bank towards Cannon Lane, and a portion of this site, including two gasholder that remain today
Tonbridge gas was an early Sunday morning jaunt, the roads were thick with fog as I drove over the Dartford Bridge I was hoping that by the time I got to Tonbridge it would be clear.
It had one frame gas holder and one pancake gas holder. Located on the edge of a very dodgy rundown industrial estate, a burnout Polish car sadly abandoned at the bottom of the gas holder made me wonder what I would find left of my car.
Access this site is easy no palisade, just a crappy chain link fence. Once over the chain link fence it was the simple case of walking up to the green gate which was already open and climbing the stairs to the top. There are some decent views over the river. Even after all these holders it still surprises me that not one person ever looks up, not one person pays any attention to somebody climbing an old bit of industry.
Looking down from the top of the frame at the pancake this is the worst condition pancake I had seen on my travels. The top of this one was rotted through no wonder the ladders are been removed.
58) Felixstowe Gas Holder Station – Walton Avenue – 1 Holder
I couldn’t find any history for this one either, I guess it’s long forgotten.
Felixstowe gas holder, where is Felixstowe people ask? At the end of Felix's foot for fuck's sake. A proper dad joke if I ever heard one. This was a nice easy one, again on the side of a busy industrial estate with lorries coming out of port so we have to be quick clambering over the chain link fence. Once up the stairs it happens it is quite a pretty one with just the right amount of rust. The view out to the docks was pretty special too.
And so on to number 100
We kept this one' til last, I hope you will understand why….
59) Lavenham Gasworks – Walter Street – 1 Holder
Located in Water Street, Lavenham Gasworks built in 1862 by an unknown fabricator consist of a single lift column guided gas holder with a cast iron bolted tank and 5 solid cast columns.
4 of the 5 columns are in excellent condition and the fifth column has wastage and mechanical damage. The top tier channel girders are replacement girders, which are bolted to the original cast iron corner sections. This cast iron Gas-Holder is listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
We kept this one 'til the end, some might say it’s a non-event as holders go but to me and RA, its petty damn cool in our book. @Rapid_Ascent can take the credit for this one, she found it while looking for something a little more local. Once we checked out some pictures and google earth we knew this one was perfect for number 100.
You see it's tiny, roughly the size of a posh kids garden trampoline, it's small in a kind of, stick in your pocket and take home, if only eh. We rocked up in the quiet little village of Lavenham, with one thing in mind.
Completing the 100.
As we climbed the massive 25 feet to the top it was all we could do to muffle our giggles. It was tiny. As you can imagine with this being number 100 we decide we take a beer or two with us. It was perfect, the stars are out and although it was cold it want too bad. Just as we cracked open the beers; two workers came out the factory next door for a fag break. As normal people they didn’t look up so we waited while these guys finished their break before we started to take pics.
Along with Aston, Yarmouth and Twelvetree's, Lavenham rates amongst my favourites. The small structure made it seem hardly worth it, but it must have served a purpose right?
So to sum it up….
Have we enjoyed it?
Fuck yeah!
Do I know how many miles I've covered?
Nope!
Do I care?
Nope!
Would I do it again?
Hell yeah!
So in a Jerry Springer type final thought all I can say is they are pulling these down rapidly now and they will not be building anymore so,
Climb 'em while we’ve got 'em kids
I couldn’t find any history for this one at all, sorry kids.
What I can tell you though is Redhill gas holder station consists of one frame type holder and one large pancake holder. Located opposite a busy shop it wasn’t a hard one to get into, we waited for a gap in the foot traffic and just bundled over the wall avoiding the ancient barbed wire.
Things were going swimmingly, well they were until we got three quarters of the way up, when I noticed a police helicopter with its search light. Ooooo bugger. We figured if they were coming for us we might as well get to the top at least. In the end we spent a fair while up here watching the helicopter look for whatever it was looking for over the main town.
57) Tonbridge Gasworks – Vale Road – 2 Holders
Gas was the first of the public utilities to be established in Tonbridge. In the 1830s and within the next 70 years the others all followed. All were dependent on developments in technology as well as on local initiative - or in the case of sewerage. The lack of it.
The Gasworks and Water Works were started by private companies, whereas the Sewage Treatment Works and Electric Light works were the responsibility of the local authority.
Tonbridge Gas Company was established in 1836 for the purpose of lighting the streets. The first gasworks was between Medway Wharf Road and the river, at the west end of Old Cannon Wharf. Coal was delivered by barge and roasted in closed ovens to produce gas which was piped to lamps in the High Street, Bordyke and East Street. The first lighting of these, on the evening of 12th November 1836, was an occasion for public celebration. Lamplighters lit and extinguished the lamps. Initially only used during the winter months. Gas was only produced in the evenings, and for a few days around full moon the lamps were not lit at all.
By 1856 the Company was supplying gas for street lamps and private consumers, including Tonbridge School and the Parish Church. Street-lighting reached Priory Street, Lavender Hill and Primrose Hill in 1865, and the Pinnacles in Shipbourne Road only in 1897. Lamps were initially either of the 'Argand' or 'bats-wing' type, in which the light came directly from the flame itself Incandescent mantles, which gave much brighter light, were tried out in two lamps on the Big Bridge in 189S , and subsequently widely adopted. Gas street-lamps, now converted for electricity, survive on the Big Bridge and Little Bridge in the High Street, and probably elsewhere in the town. New gas street lamps were still being installed, in places not yet on the electricity mains, as late as 1923, and there were still 28 gas streetlamps lamps in use in various parts of the town in 1933.
In addition to lighting gas was also in use as an industrial power source by the 1890s, fuelling gas-powered engines that were more convenient than steam engines for smaller-scale applications. Baltic Saw Mills considered installing a 12 or 16 horse power gas engine, and another was proposed for the new Quarry Hill brickworks. Tonbridge School installed a gas-engine in 1894 to drive its electric generator, and the Tonbridge Free Press later used one to replace human labour on its presses.
Dramatic growth in the use of gas for domestic cooking and heating did not come until the 20th century, by which time gas was available 24 hours a day. In 1927, for example, a record 324 cookers, 30 1 fires and 66 water-heaters were installed. For 100 years from 1836 demand for gas increased every year, requiring frequent enlargement of the gasworks and laying of bigger pipes. The first expansion, in 1864, was southwards, onto land between Walters Farm Road and the gasworks stream, and one building still survives on this site. Subsequent expansion was along the river bank towards Cannon Lane, and a portion of this site, including two gasholder that remain today
Tonbridge gas was an early Sunday morning jaunt, the roads were thick with fog as I drove over the Dartford Bridge I was hoping that by the time I got to Tonbridge it would be clear.
It had one frame gas holder and one pancake gas holder. Located on the edge of a very dodgy rundown industrial estate, a burnout Polish car sadly abandoned at the bottom of the gas holder made me wonder what I would find left of my car.
Access this site is easy no palisade, just a crappy chain link fence. Once over the chain link fence it was the simple case of walking up to the green gate which was already open and climbing the stairs to the top. There are some decent views over the river. Even after all these holders it still surprises me that not one person ever looks up, not one person pays any attention to somebody climbing an old bit of industry.
Looking down from the top of the frame at the pancake this is the worst condition pancake I had seen on my travels. The top of this one was rotted through no wonder the ladders are been removed.
58) Felixstowe Gas Holder Station – Walton Avenue – 1 Holder
I couldn’t find any history for this one either, I guess it’s long forgotten.
Felixstowe gas holder, where is Felixstowe people ask? At the end of Felix's foot for fuck's sake. A proper dad joke if I ever heard one. This was a nice easy one, again on the side of a busy industrial estate with lorries coming out of port so we have to be quick clambering over the chain link fence. Once up the stairs it happens it is quite a pretty one with just the right amount of rust. The view out to the docks was pretty special too.
And so on to number 100
We kept this one' til last, I hope you will understand why….
59) Lavenham Gasworks – Walter Street – 1 Holder
Located in Water Street, Lavenham Gasworks built in 1862 by an unknown fabricator consist of a single lift column guided gas holder with a cast iron bolted tank and 5 solid cast columns.
4 of the 5 columns are in excellent condition and the fifth column has wastage and mechanical damage. The top tier channel girders are replacement girders, which are bolted to the original cast iron corner sections. This cast iron Gas-Holder is listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
We kept this one 'til the end, some might say it’s a non-event as holders go but to me and RA, its petty damn cool in our book. @Rapid_Ascent can take the credit for this one, she found it while looking for something a little more local. Once we checked out some pictures and google earth we knew this one was perfect for number 100.
You see it's tiny, roughly the size of a posh kids garden trampoline, it's small in a kind of, stick in your pocket and take home, if only eh. We rocked up in the quiet little village of Lavenham, with one thing in mind.
Completing the 100.
As we climbed the massive 25 feet to the top it was all we could do to muffle our giggles. It was tiny. As you can imagine with this being number 100 we decide we take a beer or two with us. It was perfect, the stars are out and although it was cold it want too bad. Just as we cracked open the beers; two workers came out the factory next door for a fag break. As normal people they didn’t look up so we waited while these guys finished their break before we started to take pics.
Along with Aston, Yarmouth and Twelvetree's, Lavenham rates amongst my favourites. The small structure made it seem hardly worth it, but it must have served a purpose right?
So to sum it up….
Have we enjoyed it?
Fuck yeah!
Do I know how many miles I've covered?
Nope!
Do I care?
Nope!
Would I do it again?
Hell yeah!
So in a Jerry Springer type final thought all I can say is they are pulling these down rapidly now and they will not be building anymore so,
Climb 'em while we’ve got 'em kids
