Birmingham Gas Light and Coke Company

The Birmingham Gas Light and Coke Company operated in Birmingham from 1819 to 1875.

The Gas Retort House, Gas Street, Birmingham

History

John Gosling of London responded to a tender of 1816 from the Birmingham Street Commissioners for the provision of gas street lighting.

Gosling built his first works on Gas Street in 1817-18, with plant installed by Samuel Clegg. The streets of Birmingham were lit by gas for the first time on 14 April 1819. The Birmingham Gas Light and Coke Company, formed by an Act of Parliament, obtained the business of Gosling in 1819.[1]

The Gas Retort House was constructed in 1822[2] where town gas was manufactured by heating coal in the absence of air. This operated until 1850. The Windsor Street Gasworks was established in 1846 and remained in service after the company's takeover by the Birmingham Corporation in 1875 and then British Gas.[3]: 2 

In 1874, the Mayor of Birmingham, Joseph Chamberlain, led the Council to buy out the company. An Act of Parliament was obtained in July 1875 and the Birmingham Corporation Gas Committee was set up.[4]

References
  1. Stephens, W.B. "A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 7, The City of Birmingham. Political and Administrative History". British History Online. Victoria County History. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  2. Historic England, "Former Gas Retort House, Retort House Extension to South West and Attached Store (1234330)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 13 August 2017
  3. Thomas, Russell. "A History of the Gas Industry in Birmingham". National Grid.
  4. "Municipal Enterprise at Birmingham". Cardiff Times. Wales. 16 October 1875. Retrieved 13 August 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.


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