Curious about the sentinels of the industrial age? Here we are in front of the New Cross Gas Holder. These Victorian-era giants once dominated urban landscapes. They stored vast amounts of gas for nearby gasworks.
The New Cross Gas Holder is more than just a container. It’s a symbol of a bygone era. These gas holders stored natural gas or town gas at near atmospheric pressure. The container’s volume adjusted to the quantity of gas. Pressure came from the weight of a movable cap. Large gas holders could hold about 50000 cubic metres of gas. Structures were about 60 metres in diameter.
Did you know gas holders are also called gasometers? William Murdoch the inventor of gas lighting coined the term. Some of his peers complained that a gas holder was a container not a meter. Despite the complaints the name gasometer stuck. It became common as these structures spread across the country in the 19th century.
The telescopic gas holder revolutionized storage in 1824. The first one was built in Leeds. This design featured multiple vessels nested inside each other. The inner vessel would extend fully then the next outer vessel would rise.
Later in 1890 William Gadd invented the spirally-guided gas holder. It used spiral rails instead of external columns or guide frames. By the early 20th century gas holders were permanent fixtures. They could store up to 2 million cubic feet of gas enough to supply 2400 homes.
The discovery of North Sea natural gas in 1965 changed everything. New gas pipe technology emerged. High-pressure pipelines replaced town gas. Gas holders became less essential. Their role shifted to providing extra capacity when needed. But as pipelines improved this role dwindled.
By the 1990s most local gas networks functioned without gas holders. In 1999 the decision was made to start demolishing them. National Grid owns most of the gas holders and oversees their dismantling. This allows them to sell the valuable land.
The dismantling process is complex. A crane lifts a worker who uses a plasma cutter to sever iron girders. A second crane holds the sections and lowers them to the ground. Some innovative approaches have been trialed for dismantling. Northern Gas Networks trialed sludge solidification. Solids at the bottom of the tank are buried with the base. This method is safer more cost-effective and prevents soil contamination.
However there’s hope for some gas holders. Local communities often protest dismantling plans. Architectural firms are finding ways to incorporate these structures into new designs. For example Gasholder No 8 in Kings Cross was converted into a park. It features a circular lawn and a polished steel pavilion.
Gas holders have been a major part of British city skylines for 200 years. Cities like London Manchester and Glasgow are known for having many gas holders. Some have even become listed buildings. The gas holders behind Kings Cross station were dismantled for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. One gas holder was re-erected nearby as part of a housing development.
So as we stand here before the New Cross Gas Holder remember its history. It’s a testament to industrial innovation and a reminder of how our cities have evolved. These structures may fade from the skyline but their stories remain etched in our memories.