Thread by @artefactual_KW, Ok who wants an #Aerofilms thread via @HE_Archive all about gasworks?cc @LadyLiminal1 [...]

Ok who wants an #Aerofilms thread via @HE_Archive all about gasworks?

cc @LadyLiminal1 @Grove_digger @IHSOengland @AIndustrialArch @MartynBarber2

OK let's do this, also cc'ing @BethT1965 @JamesODavies and @RuralModernism

A _small_ selection of aerial photographs including gas works, taken by #Aerofilms and available at https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en (just type 'gas' in the search box to make a start).

We begin with what is probably the earliest #Aerofilms photo to clearly includes a gas works; the beach-side works at Portslade-by-Sea, April 1920. The firm had been operating for only a year following the re-commencement of public flying in May 1919.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW000650

A month later and #Aerofilms are over Reading, which looks far more industrial than it does today. Looks like there's more gas in the holders here than on that day at Portslade! Nice to see the canal and the railway either side of the works.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW000873

April 1921 and we are over Hendon, where #Aerofilms were based, at Brent gas works. Includes the rail tracks with wagons - are they bringing fuel in or taking waste out? Or both? Excellent overall layout, and nice allotments to the left of the works!
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW006179

July 1924, Linacre Gas Works in Bootle. Just look at the housing surrounding the gas works. You should be able to pick out the canal on the right hand side of the works and across the bottom of the image too.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW011166

Another sea-side works, on 29 July 1926. Hendon, Sunderland. Rather large!
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW016368

Let's not forget that companies were making goods to use all this gas. Here's the the Richmond Gas Stove and Meter Works, Warrington, July 1926.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW016344

It's September 1928 and here's another great layout, The Oxford Gas Company's works in Oxford.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW024626

No here's something that intrigues me about gas works.

Painting things on the top of gas holders.

Here's Leicester gas works in July 1931 - WHO IS GOING TO SEE THIS EXCEPT THE TINY GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE VERY FEW AIRCRAFT THAT ARE OUT AND ABOUT?!
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW035990

Here's the Cambridge gas works in May 1933. You can visit the Cambridge Museum of Technology next door in the sewage works pumping station https://www.museumoftechnology.com too! https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW041310

Grimsby gas works in June 1933, also with the town's name painted across the top of a gas holder, this time with a north arrow. So was this something done especially for aviators and balloonists, and if so who arranged this amenity to support aviation? https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW042066

In contrast, here is some advertising! On a gas holder at Stone, an advert for Stone Ales. Nice details of the gas works too.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW042624

A different type of gas holder at the gas works in Dublin, in 1933. Typical #Aerofilms image, close up over the site.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/XPW043442

And another nice close up, this time of part of the gas works next to the Gothic Gas Meter and Stove Works in Edmonton, in June 1934.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW044762

It's not all big urban centres. #Aerofilms took plenty of photos of small, local, gas works like this one at Caerleon. Check out the people in the garden looking at the aircraft, and the tent!
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/WPW058578

Looks like The Windsor Street gas works, Aston, is getting ready for the war - it's 10 June 1938, three months before the Munich crisis and perhaps this is camouflage paint on the gas holders.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW057540

Here's another small gas works, Uppingham on 20 July 1938. Just look at this layout. House including string of laundry. Gas holders, retort building and other structures, and piles of fuel and I guess spent material too.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW058159

I love this photo of Wem town gas works. Look closely. There are other industrial buildings like a timber yard to bottom left. But other stuff is happening too, like a public event (which I think might be a sheep dog trials) to the right.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW058364

I've been at this thread for far longer than I planned, so I'm going to call it a day, but don't forget there are a bazillion more images like these at https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en , it's well worth a look!

I had wanted to end this thread with @FakenhamMuseum but unfortunately the gas works is just off the edge of the surviving #Aerofilms photos of the town. However, that won’t stop you visiting them. Appendix to the main thread now follows >

Fakenham in Norfolk has a wonderful museum at its town gas works site. @FakenhamMuseum is a scheduled monument, and for very good reason.

Here’s the schedule entry, although it’s an old one so not much data.
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1003908
But the map shows you where it is.

Fakenham gasworks, Fakenham - 1003908 | Historic England

Heritage List Entry Summary for Fakenham Gasworks

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1003908

It’s a fabulously well preserved town gas works, you can walk around the site to understand the whole production process. The chemistry is explained and there are even examples of the gas appliances that people could buy.

So an important part of the gas works is actually the ‘front of house’. When you visit, you’ll notice that the atreet frontage is actually a shop front with big glass windows, part of the sales and advertising side of the business.

This is a really inportant part of the assemblage that industrial archaeology/heritage really is. The site is not only about the nitty gritty of the technology, or the backbreaking labour on site, or the chemistry, important as those things are.

At @FakenhamMuseum you can see how all that industrial stuff served the community. It’s great. Visit Fakenham and check out the museum on one of their open days!

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