Featured Report - Jumping Jack Flash – UK Industry ( AKA Gas Holder Porn )– 1700’s -2022

[mockney reject]

Now that's a lot of gas
Awesome work!
Great to see people still on it and a few updates on the holders are doing these days.

Gas is always good, as you yourself know

The only problem is knowing when to stop lol

 

[Rik UE]

Now that is just an amazing report! Epic awesomeness!!

 

[mockney reject]

Now that is just an amazing report! Epic awesomeness!!

Thanks dude

 

[Chalkie31]

And the prize for best report of 2019 goes to......

What can you say just incredible. Take a bow!!

 

[mockney reject]

And the prize for best report of 2019 goes to......

What can you say just incredible. Take a bow!!

Thanks dude

 

[Lord Oort]

How the hell did I miss this?

Proper nice job mate!

 

[mockney reject]

How the hell did I miss this?

Proper nice job mate!

no idea lol

Thanks

 

[Cloth Head]

what a fantastic report well done.

 

[mockney reject]

what a fantastic report well done.

Cheers dude

 

[Baggy trousers]

Well, that was probably one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in a long time. These things have always grabbed my interest as there are a few in my area. Really have enjoyed reading through that. Keep up the good work and here's to the next hundred

 

[mockney reject]

Well, that was probably one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in a long time. These things have always grabbed my interest as there are a few in my area.

Thanks dude, go climb them

Keep up the good work and here's to the next hundred

Erm I’m already 5 in but taking it a little slower lol

 

[mockney reject]

So here we go with part II of Jumping Jack Flash

I know we had promised ourselves that we would stop at 100 gasholders but the draw from these magnificent beasts was simply too much, so here we go.

A little different this time as a fair few of these are long gone but I thought it would be good to show you what’s left and what was once there.

See it kinda started again on a weekend away for my birthday back in May RA took me away for the weekend and we found ourselves visiting Brighton and came across this little beauty



60) Brighton Gasworks – Marina way – 2 Holders

In 1816 the idea of gas lighting was first raised at Brighton with its Gasometer. According to history, by 1818 the Commissioners had given permission for pipes to be laid and the Brighton Gas Light and Coke Company was formed the same year. It was this company that built the gasworks at Black Rock in 1818-1819.

The implementation of gas lighting was not all plain sailing. For a start there was widespread prejudice against it not to mention a lively fear of possible explosions.

The old gas works can be seen in the corner of this picture

It was also much more expensive. For example, the old street oil lamps cost £500 to run whereas an estimate for keeping the gas lamps running came to £1,600. There are still remnants of the old gas lamps in the area, particularly at the old entrance to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Bristol Gate.

So out and about riding around Brighton on the seaside town’s equivalent of Boris bikes we ended up at one end of the sea front and spotted this little bugger and its pancake mate. Located on the edge of a busy trading estate loaded with coaches and crash repair garages we knew we would have to be fast with this one. A quick up and down and we jumped back on the bikes and headed off. Not a bad pair to kick start JJF part 2, really easy on the eye but definitely up there in the gasholders most rotten stakes lol

61) Littlehampton holder station – Harwood road – 1 Holder

Built in 1957, the Littlehampton gas holder is a Wiggin’s dry seal type gasholder built by C & W Walker Ltd of Donnington, Wellington and Shropshire. Originally two holders were built on this site but today only one remains.

The gas holder in Harwood Road, Littlehampton, will be demolished by SGN in the coming years, a spokesperson confirmed.

It was built in 1967 and has been a landmark in the town ever since.

The SGN spokesperson said: “Our regulator Ofgem is funding the removal of our gasholders as we now store gas in pipes, which is much more cost effective.

“The gas holder in Harwood Road, Littlehampton, will be dismantled at some point in the future as part of our ongoing programme, however it’s not currently on our agenda so will remain for at least the next two to three years.”

They added that the gas holder has not been in use for several years and it will not affect jobs when the holder is finally dismantled.

We already knew about the MAN Wiggins type gasholder in Littlehampton but we decided it was too far out to include in the original 100 holders. However whilst in Brighton it would have been silly to not nip along the coast and check this one out. After all it’s not every day you get to check out this kind of holder, especially one with such an ornate cast maker’s plate.

We hopped a few fences and managed to scratch ourselves to bits negotiating the staircases to the top of this one, Sadly the inner stairs have been long removed but the access hatches on the top bring open gave for a few decent snaps.

62) Bovisa Gasworks – Milan- Italy – 2 Holders

Construction of the large Bovisa gas works started in 1905, and it, along with its gasometers, has come to be a distinctive symbol of Milan. Enclosed in the teardrop-shaped railway yard, the area and its neighbouring district have been subject to various redevelopment projects, including the locating of some campuses of the Milan Polytechnic, though the gasometer site is still being studied to develop the reclamation and repurposing projects.

In Milan, the first plant to manufacture gas for public lighting was built in 1845 near Porta Ludovica, a few steps away from the Spanish Walls. The City of Milan initially contracted out the plant’s management to an engineer from Lyon, Achille Guillard, and in 1863, after various changes of ownership, the French company Union des Gaz bought out the entire gas works and its contracts.

Although towards the close of the nineteenth century the introduction of electrical energy and its increasing applications in the field of illumination had given rise to new and vigorous competition, private consumption of gas for heat and illumination grew, as did the use of gas for industrial purposes.

It was in this context that, starting in 1905, Union des Gaz launched the construction of a large gas works in the Bovisa quarter. The vast structure, spread over a territory of 450 thousand square meters, was to supplement the old Porta Lodovica gas works and the smaller plants at Porta Nuova (1870) and Porta Venezia (1880).

Inaugurated in 1908, the plant ran Italy’s largest gasometer, an 80-thousand square-meter “Cutler”. Parallel to the new coal gasification batteries, a large heating plant was built along with the first pressure room and the mechanical workshop, structures that can still be seen there today and have been heritage listed.

When World War I broke out, the expansion project ground to an abrupt halt, and it was not until the Società Gas e Coke Milano took over ownership in the twenties, that it was resumed, with the construction of new distillation chambers. When the Edison Company came onto the scene in 1934, the plant reached full autonomy, becoming the largest gas works in Europe.

After World War II, the plants were modernized for the first time: in 1952, a system for the Semet Solvay diluent gas was installed, donated by the United States thanks to the Marshall Plan.

The sixties marked a turning point in the history of the gas works: in 1962, the increase in demand and the limited yield of coal forced the company to develop new reforming systems using liquid petroleum distillate, while in 1969, the by-then obsolete distillation chambers were decommissioned and then demolished.

In 1981, the prospect of a natural gas supply service prompted the City of Milan to revoke its concession and entrust the distribution of gas to the Azienda elettrica municipale (AEM). From this time on, AEM embarked on a campaign to bring natural gas to the city, concluded in 1994 with the closing down of the Bovisa’s old facilities.

A transitory backdrop for television broadcasts and cultural events, as well as the scenario for several recovery plans and policy agreements, the gasometer area is presently in a sort of limbo: the site is still heavily burdened by the costs of its clean up. Today, a part of the area and the adjacent neighbourhood have undergone various redevelopment projects, including the locating of some campuses of the Milan Polytechnic, but the gasometer site still awaits a clear and coherent repurposing plan.

Both of the holders here are pretty cool, they are a pair of water-sealed frame type gasholders. One made by Samuel Cutler of London and dates from 1905 and the other is a Klönne-dating from 1930 and both have four lifts.

The taller one has had a hole crudely gas axed in the side to allow you to have a look inside.

It was quite interesting inside, someone has constructed a bridge over to the middle and it was evident it had been host to a few parties. There was also what appeared to be an old raft inside it too.

But it was the views from the top we came for.

63) Bologna gasworks – Italy – 1 Holder

So to save you from a load of written blah blah blah I’ve managed to find you a nice clip to watch about this one.

We happened to find this one on a trip to Italy and by chance we bumped into @UrbexMooch. So myself, RA and @UrbexMooch decided to see what was what with this one. After managing to get into the compound where this MAN holder is located we were soon met by an ever so slightly upset Italian security guard who just happened to be carrying a gun. That kinda put an end to the plans of us climbing this one.

Or did it?

See I don’t like to be told I can’t climb something and I was damned sure I wasn’t missing out on this magnificent beast. So we circumnavigated the compound until we found a suitable place to climb the weird security fence. As you can see in the pictures it was just slats cut to a sharp point. Well UM and RA decided to sit this one out while I climbed over and ran up the steps to the top. Hoping that if said angry lady appeared they would at least shout at me lol

Well she never came and we ended up with some ace pics of what must be the prettiest MAN in existence.

64) Nechelles Gasworks – Birmingham – 2 Holders

Nechelles gas works produced coke as a by-product from the manufacture of coal gas. It was owned and operated by the West Midlands Gas Board. Prior to the strikes of January 1972, the coke was sold largely to schools and hospitals, and a former manager of the depot described its normal operations as "three lorries a day at most". After the strikes were announced, demand increased sharply and the depot began receiving up to 400 vehicles per day. By February 1972, around 30,000 tons of coke had been collected and the stockpile was estimated to hold 100,000 tons. The number of collections had increased to around 700 per day, and traffic around the depot was being disrupted by the queues, up to a mile long, of lorries waiting to get in.

Although the confrontations on 1972 have come to be known as the "Battle of Saltley Gate", the picketed depot was located in the adjacent ward of Nechelles. Robert Kellaway said: "Many commentators have discussed the mythology surrounding the "Battle of Saltley Gate" yet its most obvious myth – its name – has often been overlooked.

The confrontation actually took place at the gate for Nechells gas works. The Saltley gas works and its "gates" were on the other side of the Saltley Viaduct adjacent to the Nechells works. As local trade unionist Bill Shreeve declared, "The press and the media kept insisting on calling it Saltley Gate and that's gone down in the history books."" Don Perrygrove, a local union official, said: "Next to Saltley gas works there's also a locality where there used to be a tollgate, and that is called "Saltley Gate" and when people were trying to close the gas works... they assumed that it was one and the same."

So we knew this one was gone but whilst out on a jolly in Birmingham, Myself, RA, @Ojay, @Seffy, @END-PROC, @WhoDaresWins and @tallginge decided to have a butchers at what was left here.

This report by @Voibmi shows you what was originally here :-

Report - - Gas Holders, Saltley, Birmingham, December 2012. | High Stuff

- Saltley Gas Holders - Approximately 160 ft high. Been wanting to climb these massive metal structures for a long time, very excited on the day, when I got through the perimeter; walking up to the foot of them was overwhelming, knowing that I could climb them and was about to. A gas holder...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

Not much apart from these whopping great water filled holes and what became our playground for an hour or so’s dicking about lol

 

[mockney reject]

65) Norwich Gasworks – Gas Hill/Bishops Bridge Road – 2 Holders

John Taylor of Norwich and his partner Martineau obtained a patent in 1815 for apparatus to manufacture gas from oil. In 1820 they obtained an AoP to form the Norwich Gas Light Company. The works was situated at Bishop's Bridge.

In 1825 the British Gas Light Company purchased the undertaking and obtained an AoP confirming the transfer in 1826 although the company continued to trade as Norwich GLC. The company continued to manufacture gas from oil until 1830 when the undertaking converted to coal gas manufacture.

By 1851 the demand had increased and an additional works was built at St Martin-at-Palace. In 1857 the British Gas Light Company obtained an AoP to dissolve the Norwich GLC and the undertaking became a part of the parent company. In 1903, manufacture ceased at Bishop's Bridge and the site became a holder station. All manufacture was concentrated at St Martin-at-Palace. With the rise in demand for chemical products, a site was obtained in Great Yarmouth in 1883 for a chemical works to treat the byproducts from the Norwich stations.

The British Gas Light Company bought up the company and concentrated on developing Gas Hill and a large site in St Martin’s where the courts now stand, with demand for gas soaring.

On Nationalisation in 1949 the undertaking became part of the Norwich Group of the Norwich Division of EGB.

But there is no longer a need to use large gas holders. Gas can now be stored in the pipe system itself.

I found this report to give you an idea of what was left on the Gas Hill site before demolition.

http://www.***********.com/showthread.php/4864-Gas-Holder-Gas-Hill-Norwich-Norfolk-UK-July-2009

Whilst out in Norwich with @darbians I managed to talk him into having a look at these two sites. The Gas hill site had the remains of a frame holder that was still in the middle of being removed, so nothing to climb here but a few bits to take pictures of.

The Bishops Bridge Road site was in pretty much the same state, the Pancake holder in a ripped apart state and a large skip full of the remains of the frames.

66) Denham gasholder site – London – 2 Holders

Very little can be found online regarding the Denham gasholder site, just this one picture.

The frame gasholder can just been seen at the top of this picture of the nearby Martin-Baker Aircraft Co Ltd Works, Taken in 1953, it only shows the one holder, with the other being a later addition.

So there was always going to be one site we missed inside the M25, and Denham was the one. Just squeezing itself inside the m25 by a miniscule 190 odd Metres, but inside is inside, said the 13 year old to his mates on the loss of his virginity.

Damn, how did we miss it?

Fucked if I know, especially as it’s one of the more picturesque sites too.

With the ladders to the floor well and truly chopped off myself and RA had a little climbing to do but soon shimmed our way up the steel work and collapsed in a heap on top….

What a decent pair of holders, a little rotten in places but still a good pair to check off of the ever expanding list.

67) Aylesbury holder site – Gatehouse Road – 1 Holder

Taken from the Centenary Edition of the Bucks Herald, 1932.

Two years after the birth of the “Bucks Herald,” or, to be precise, on May 23rd, 1834, the original Gas Company was founded to supply the town of with gas.

There are no records to show who the first Directors were, but at a meeting of the shareholders held on August 29th, 1861, it was decided to form a Joint Stock Company to be called “The Aylesbury Gas Company, Limited.” The Chairman at that time was Mr. David Reid, and the Secretary, Mr. H. Hatten. Mr. Hatten was one of the promoters in 1834. The new Company came into being on October 2nd, 1861, with a capital of £10,800, for the purpose of lighting the parish of Aylesbury-with-Walton with gas. At this time gas was used almost wholly for lighting by means of self-luminous flames. Mr. David Reid was Chairman of Directors; Mr. J. K. Fowler was Treasurer; Messrs. H. Hatten and Joseph Parrott were Joint Secretaries and Solicitors; and Mr. T. Field was Works Superintendent. The annual make of gas was 10½ million cubic feet.

The make of gas gradually increased year by year, and in 1877 Mr. George Lane joined the Company as Manager, when the make of was 19½ millions. In 1883 gas cooking stoves were supplied to consumers on simple hire. In 1834 Mr. Frederick B. Parrott was elected Secretary in succession to his father, Mr. Joseph Parrott, and in 1897 Mr. Francis G. Parrott succeeded Mr. Frederick, and in 1907 he was succeeded by Mr. Francis H. Parrott.

The advent of the incandescent mantle was thought to be a mixed blessing, as it was anticipated that the sales of would fall owing to the extra light given by the mantle. This proved to be otherwise, as more people used gas for lighting and cooking.

In the year 1901 a new process of making was introduced, namely, a carburetted water plant, which enabled the Company to postpone the erection of yet another gasholder.

An undated picture of the Aylesbury Gas Showrooms.

George Lane became Manager of the Aylesbury Gas Company in 1877 and remained in that role until he retired in 1920, being superseded by his son.

In 1904 it was decided to dissolve the Company and re-incorporate it as a statutory undertaking, and in 1905 an Act of Parliament was passed giving the Company power to raise capital to the amount of £90,000 and to supply gas to the villages of Bierton, Stoke Mandeville and Aston Clinton. At this period, owing to the demand for gas the large gas-holder had to be built and the manufacturing plant enlarged, the annual make of gas being 50½ million cubic feet.

From this time there was a steady increase in the sale of till 1918, when it became necessary to build a more up-to-date method of making coal gas. Vertical retorts were installed, and in 1921 the Company had to seek further powers to purchase the Wendover Gas Company and supply gas on this basis instead of “candle power." The plant at Wendover was dismantled and supplied by a new main from Aylesbury.

The general strike in 1926 was the worst period the Company has experienced. The foreign coal which had to be used badly damaged the manufacturing plant, causing unnecessary repairs, and over £4,000 had to be paid extra for coat during this time. The old carburetted water gas plant had to be replaced by the latest type of plant, which, although occupying the same space, is capable of making three times more gas. The Company managed to “weather” the storm, however, and is still making progress, especially in cooking and heating. Over 700 cookers have been sold during the last five years.

It is interesting to note that owing to the long lengths of main necessary to supply the districts, only three million cubic feet of gas is used per annum on each mile of main, compared with some London Companies, where, with more houses, the consumption is as high as eight or nine million cubic feet.

We had previously ducked out of doing the Aylesbury holder as it was just out of reach of any others we did in the first lot. But once we had done Denham, it was still warm and the day had plenty left in it, so we decided to head home via Aylesbury. After a brisk walk around the site we decided the best entry point was via the carpark of the local happy clapper’s church and over the palisade and barbed wire at the back.

For a pancake holder this one was a fair size and once we were up the stairways more than a little wobbly. RA was consumed by a dose of the giggles as we sat up top and listened to the music from the local pub. Once it started to get dark we climbed down and made our way home, of course via a local eatery lol.

68) Bradford road gas holder site – Manchester – 2 Holders

The new gasholder (Ten Million Cubic Feet Capacity) erected at the Bradford Road station of the Manchester Corporation Gas-Works by Messrs. Ashmore, Benson, Pease, and Co., Limited, of Stockton-On-Tees

It was in July of 1908 that the foundation stone-laying ceremony took place; the late Alderman Gibson, as Chairman of the Gas Committee, having been asked to carry out the chief part in the day's proceedings.

Following this event there was considerable delay in proceeding with the construction of the tank, in consequence of the extensive investigations made as to the coal-mining operations carried on underneath the site of the structure, and any possible effect that might arise therefrom.

The holder was the third largest in the world; having a capacity of 10,410,000 cubic feet. Though not quite the largest in the world, it is probably the heaviest of its kind.

The whole work was designed by the Chief Engineer. The following are the principle features of the undertaking:

TANK - Size of tank, 285 feet in diameter and 43 feet deep.

Excavation for tank walls, 107.000 cubic yards. Clay puddle, 7940 cubic yards.

Number of bricks required for tank, 4,000,000.

Thickness of tank wall, 5 ft. 6 in. at the base, and 2 ft. 9 in. at top.

Stonework,10,225 cubic feet.

Timber used in excavation to keep the ground intact until the walls were being built: Polling boards, 89.300 superficial feet by 1½ inches thick ; walling timbers, 14.660 cubic feet ; struts, 18,330 cubic feet ; punchings, 3000 cubic feet.

Total depth of excavation in trench, 50 feet.

Total depth of excavation in pipe recess, 56 ft. 9 in.

Total weight of steel and iron work in tank framing, 258 tons. Water required to fill tank, 9,042,018 gallons. Cost, £35,638.

HOLDER - Outer lift, 282 ft. diameter by 42 ft. 6 in. deep ; Third lift, 279 ft. by 42 ft. 6 in. ; Second lift, 276 ft. by 42 ft. 6 in. ; Inner lift. 273 ft. by 43 ft. 6 in.

Total capacity of holder, 10,410,000 cubic feet.

Ground level to top of holder crown, 182 feet when filled.

Ground level to top of guide-framing standards, 169 ft. 6 in.

Steel standards and guides, 32 in number, each weighing 30 tons complete.

Floating weight of holder, 1607 tons.

Total weight of steel and ironwork in holder complete, 3080 tons (excluding the tank framing, previously given).

Estimated cost of holder, with tank framing and inlet and outlet pipes, £52,600.

All the above info has been stolen from @Ojays epic report on this site

https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/bradford-gas-works-holder-no-2-manchester-2019.119058/

This one was a cracker, I was up in Manchester visiting @Ojay and he happened to mention that this was what we believed to be the largest remaining holder in the UK. This led us to have to find out where the largest holder in the world was. But we will save that for another time….

Entrance to this one was a bugger and involved a rather precarious climb over what wouldn’t have been a nice fall. Luckily Ojay had packed some straps and carabiners and after tying back an epic mess of razor wire we made our way in. This was probably one of the hardest ones I have done as the site is semi live and covered in cameras.

Needless to say after a bit of unpleasant ducking and diving we made it to the top.

 

[mockney reject]

69) Preston Gasworks – Ribbleton Lane – 2 Holders

An undertaking, named the Preston Gas-Light Company, was set up in 1815 largely through the influence of Mr. I. Wilcockson (who became Chairman of the company and remained so until 1863). It was the first provincial company formed to supply gas for public lighting. A gas works was established in the centre of Preston at Avenham Lane, and operations commenced in 1816. In 1833 the company purchased a water works to supply the gas works with water.

In 1836 a proposal was made that a charter of incorporation be applied for. This charter was finally obtained in 1839 and the company became the Preston Gas Company. Further parliamentary powers were sought and obtained in 1853, 1865, 1879, 1894 and 1911, these succeeded in extending the company's limits of supply.

To meet the increasing demands for gas, two production stations were built in Moor Lane and in Walker Street, three storage and distributing stations were also built in Glover Street, Ribbleton Lane and Walton. In 1872 the company built its central offices and showrooms in Fishergate. In 1924 the company acquired thirty four acres of land at Lostock Hall, three miles south of Preston, for the construction of new works. The works was completed in 1931 and the existing production stations in the centre of Preston were closed down and dismantled.

On nationalisation in 1949 the company vested and became part of the Preston Group of the North West Gas Board.

This was another one I covered with @Ojay while we had a bit of time to kill, located in the middle of a scene from the TV show shameless this pair of holders seam really out of place. The frame holder is pretty unusual having only one tier. This also made this one an easy climb.

But first we had to get into the site and over the poxy bastard fence and somehow avoid this little fella.

Yup a tremor sensor secured amongst the barbed wire, something I’d not seen before on a gas site. Still after a bit of a sketchy climb I’d avoided it and got in the site whilst Ojay snapped a few pics from afar.

This first picture being one of them

70) Provan Gasworks – Glasgow – 2 Holders

Provan Gas Works is an industrial gas holding plant in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. The plant is in the Provanmill area of the city, and was built by Glasgow Corporation between 1900 and 1904. It later became part of British Gas, and subsequently Transco and most recently Scotia Gas Networks (a subsidiary of Scottish and Southern Energy) who operate it today.

Originally the plant was a gasworks, manufacturing town gas via the cooking of coal. The plant was expanded after 1919. Following nationalisation of the gas supply in 1948, the plant passed to the Scottish Gas Board, and then to British Gas in 1973. In 1972, supplies of inexpensive natural gas from North Sea oilfields became available. The gasworks was downsized significantly in the 1980s in response to changing economic conditions arising as the British gas industry was privatised under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Today the plant is largely unmanned, used solely for gas storage and distribution.

The plant has become significant for its two massive column-guided gasometers and an additional spiral-guided gasometer, which have become an iconic industrial landmark in Glasgow's East End. Among the largest of their kind in the UK, each of the towers can hold 283,000 m3 (9,994,000 cu ft.) of gas, and is 85.4 metres (280 ft.) in diameter. Their combined storage capacity is 566,000 m3 (19,988,000 cu ft.) – each enough to supply a city the size of York for an entire day.

Since the construction of the M8 and M80 motorways in the 1970s and 1980s, which run directly next to the plant, the twin gasholders have become an unofficial portal into the city's central area for drivers from Edinburgh and the north. The towers have also gained an affectionate following among locals since they are often used to display huge placards showcasing the various promotional slogans for the city, the most memorable being the "Glasgow's Miles Better" and "Everyone's Glasgowing On" campaigns.

The future of the plant is under discussion: Glasgow City Council has proposed plans for decontaminating the unused land on the brownfield site and redeveloping it for commercial use. In 2012, Scotia Gas Networks announced that the twin gasometers were to be decommissioned, with no decision made on their future

This pair are huge! Phnarf phnarf.

Driving into Glasgow with @Seffy and @END-PROC in search of something else we couldn’t help but stop and admire the holder at Proven gas works. I begged the lads to stop so I could grab some pics and the three of us were soon scaling the various fences and snapping away. The sheer size of these is definitely something you need to see with your own eyes. The tower way above anything else nearby and can be seen from miles away. Unlike a large amount of the UK’s holders these two were in fantastic condition and appeared to be well looked after.

71) Stockport Gasworks – Manchester - 3 Holders

The first undertaking in Stockport was established in 1820 and the private company was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1825. The works were at Millgate. A second rival undertaking was established by Henry Booth in 1834 at Heaton Lane to supply Heaton Norris. However, in 1839 the newly established Improvement Commissioners purchased both undertakings. By 1876 the Heaton Lane works were becoming too small and a new site at Portwood was acquired. The site was the former Stockport Reservoir and was opened in 1877.

The former works at Millgate continued in operation until 1892 and the site was later used for a generating station by the Stockport Corporation Electricity Supply established in 1898. The Heaton Lane works were closed down in 1907 and the site was used for gas storage. A waterless holder was built at Portwood in 1931. The undertaking became part of the North Cheshire Group of the NWGB in 1949.

Another set I checked out whilst up in Manchester visiting @Ojay. Well these prove that google maps do actually lie. Lol

Yup the three holders were gone and much to mine and Ojays disappointment it looked like we had only just missed them as they were still working on the area.

What was interesting to see with these ones was the fact the bases were lined with red brick, usually they are poured concrete or lined with sheet steel.

72) Salford Gasworks – Manchester - 2 Holders

Gas production in Salford, for public supply, began in 1819 under Messers. Appleby, Brain, Fisher and Clay. An 1830 Act of Parliament allowed the Commissioners of Salford to purchase the works in Clowes Street in 1831. By 1836 these works were replaced by a new gas works in Lamb Lane, later known as Bloom Street. In 1844 a Charter of Incorporation was granted to the town and the gas works came under the control of the Salford Corporation. Under the control of the Corporation's Gas Committee production expanded. New works were constructed in Salford at Regent Road in 1858, Liverpool Street in 1868, Albion Street in 1893 and West Egerton Street in 1912.

The Liverpool Street works and the Regent Road works were connected by a footbridge and both lay alongside the London and North-Western Railway. The Albion St works were also adjacent to the Liverpool St works and connected by a subway. The main offices and meter department were based at Bloom St. The area of supply included Eccles, Swinton, Worsley, Walkden, Davyhulme, Irlam, Cadishead and Pendlebury though in 1922 Salford Corporation sold their right to supply Davyhulme to the newly formed Stretford and District Gas Board. On nationalisation in 1949 the Salford Corporation Gas Department vested into the Manchester Group of the NWGB.


Another set in the unsuccessful Manchester collection, I ventured to Salford on my own while Ojay was elsewhere, drinking a Kronie was my guess, These two infamous holders had long been dismantled but it was nice to see the displays on the wall surrounding the yard. These told you not only about the gasworks and the power station but gave some great details about local industry and history.

 

[mockney reject]

73) Stretford gasworks – Manchester - 3 Holders

The Stretford Gas Co was formed in 1854. It was incorporated by Act of Parliament 1862 and its area of supply was Stretford, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Urmston, Davyhulme, Flixton, Sale and Timperley. The company never exercised its powers in Timperley and supply was provided by the Altrincham Gas Co. Manchester Corporation purchased the right to supply Chorlton-cum-Hardy in 1906.

The Stretford works were situated on Thomas St and Longford St alongside the Bridgewater Canal. The works were expanded several times. In 1921 Manchester Corporation promoted an Act which authorised the purchase of Stretford Gas Co. This met with vigorous opposition from the surrounding local authorities and a proviso was therefore made that if two or more local councils formed a Joint Board to supply gas in the area, Manchester Corporation should sell the Stretford undertaking back to the Board at the same price. In 1922, the Stretford and District Gas Board Act was passed which established a Board made up of representatives from Stretford UDC, Sale UDC, Ashton-upon-Mersey UDC, Barton-upon-Irwell RDC and Bucklow RDC. Stretford undertaking was purchased back from Manchester Corporation after only nine months.

The Act also established the area of supply to include parts of Ashton-upon-Mersey previously supplied by Altrincham Gas Company. The works on Thomas St were reconstructed in 1923 and additional land for works was purchased in 1937 immediately to the north west of the Thomas St site. This became the no.2 works. A holder site was also acquired at Dane Rd in Sale in 1935 and a large 4 lift spiral holder was built there. By 1947 the Stretford works were able to supplement the Altrincham gasworks via a separate 6" main. In 1949 the Stretford undertaking became part of the Manchester Group of the NWGB.

Stretford was the last of the unsuccessful trio of Manchester sites. A nice sign hung on the fence here to remind me of what I had missed and the now familiar holes in the round tormented me with a nah nah nah nah nahhhhhh! type of insult lol

74) Bedford Gasworks – Havelock Street– 3 holders

The gasworks in Bedford had been a feature of the town’s landscape since the 1830s; initially on a site off Priory Street and from 1864 on a nearby site off Ford End Road.

The large gasholders would have formed prominent features illustrating the 19th and 20th-century industrial development of this part of the town, also shown by the Eagle Brewery to the west of the works, the Britannia Iron Works to the south-east and by the railway passing to the east.

The gasworks gradually expanded during the first half of the 20th century but then in the 1970s much of the site was cleared after British Gas decided to phase out the production of gas from burning coal in retorts to the use of natural gas. Three large gasholders remained in use after this switch to natural gas but they are now redundant and the site is being fully cleared.

This forms part of a wider national programme to clear redundant gasholders and due to the fact that they are often of some heritage interest (although rarely listed) National Grid is undertaking a programme of historic building recording prior to their loss.

The three holders at the Bedford works which have been recorded are all 20th century in date and the part of the overall site where they are located is also part of the 20th-century expansion to the works. Two of the holders were spirally guided and name plates firmly dated them to 1926 and 1938.

The other holder had a telescopic design and it was originally constructed in the early 20th century (probably Edwardian period). However, it underwent a substantial reconstruction in the mid-20th century (probably between 1945 and 1960) when the external supporting frame was replaced. The gasholders were of limited intrinsic heritage significance but they will have had some local interest in relation to this part of Bedford and the current recording has documented this. The site also includes various other small elements of plant but none of these are of any age or heritage significance.

A PDF file relating to these holders can be found here

https://library.thehumanjourney.net/4140/1/BEGAS17.pdf

Back down south and heading out to have a nose around with RA we found ourselves in sunny, sorry I meant Shitty Bedford. After a fleeting visit to RAE Bedford,

Report - - RAE Bedford – Bedfordshire - May 2015 | Industrial Sites

The history In 1946 the site at Thurleigh the new base for the second Royal Aircraft Establishment site. The site had several reasonably large wind tunnels, one supersonic and one large subsonic.. The supersonic tunnel was dismantled by 2005 and the building which held the fans and driving...

www.28dayslater.co.uk

I was having a look at google maps and noticed three decent looking holders and headed directly for them.

Sadly on arrival we found that this was all that was left. Yet more tormenting holes in the ground lol