Behold the twin giants of Glasgow’s East End. The Provan Gas Works’ gasometers stand tall. They are a testament to the city’s industrial might. Built between 1900 and 1904 by Glasgow Corporation, the Provan Gas Works was a marvel of engineering. Imagine the scene. Coal transformed into town gas, lighting up homes and businesses across the city.
Originally, the Provan Gas Works manufactured town gas. This was achieved by cooking coal. Expanded after 1919, it became a vital part of British Gas. Later, it transitioned to Transco and then Scotia Gas Networks. Today, it is operated by Scotia Gas Networks.
After the nationalisation of the gas supply in 1948, the plant passed to the Scottish Gas Board. In 1973, it became part of British Gas. In 1972, North Sea gas became available. This led to the plant being downsized in the 1980s. Today, the Provan Gas Works is largely unmanned. It is used mainly for gas storage and distribution.
Each of these massive column-guided gasometers can hold 283000 cubic meters of gas. That is enough to supply a city the size of York for an entire day. Their combined storage capacity is 566000 cubic meters. They are among the largest of their kind in the UK.
Since the construction of the M8 and M80 motorways, the twin gasholders have become an unofficial portal into Glasgow. Drivers from Edinburgh and the north see them as they enter the city. Locals have also embraced the towers. They have often been used to display promotional slogans for the city. Remember “Glasgow’s Miles Better”? Or how about “Everyone’s Glasgowing On”?
The future of the Provan Gas Works is under discussion. Glasgow City Council has proposed plans for redeveloping the brownfield site for commercial use. In 2012, Scotia Gas Networks announced that the gasometers were to be decommissioned. The twin column-guided gasholders were protected as Category B listed structures in 2018 by Historic Environment Scotland. The owners disputed this due to high maintenance costs.
In 2020, the Scottish Prison Service announced plans to build a replacement for HM Prison Barlinnie adjacent to the gas works. Demolition of the unlisted spiral-guided gasometer began in 2020.
The Provan Gas Works played a crucial role in Glasgow’s industrial history. The works had its own railway network. It transported coal and coke throughout the site. This included seven and a half miles of standard gauge and one and a quarter miles of narrow gauge track. Andrew Barclay of Kilmarnock supplied six narrow gauge locomotives in 1903.
Imagine the bustling activity within the Provan Gas Works. Coal arriving by rail. Gas being produced and stored. The Provan Gas Works supplied the north eastern part of the city in 1949. It stretched from Bishopbriggs to Gartcosh and Easterhouse.
So, as we stand here, let’s appreciate the legacy of the Provan Gas Works. It is a symbol of Glasgow’s industrial past. It reminds us of the city’s innovation and resilience.