Is this the ghost of the gaslight era? Here, in the quiet of Twelvetrees Crescent, stands the Sir Corbett Woodall Statue. This bronze figure, clad in academic gowns, is more than just a statue. It’s a reminder of a time when London was lit by gaslight, and Sir Corbet Woodall was at the heart of it all.
Sir Corbett Woodall wasn’t just a gas engineer. He was a leader. A visionary who, in 1906, took the helm of the Gas Light and Coke Company, the biggest gas company in the world. Under his leadership, the company thrived, pushing the boundaries of innovation. But Woodall was more than just a businessman. He was a champion of his workers, advocating for better labor relations. He even introduced a “co-partnership” scheme, a radical idea at the time.
The statue originally stood proudly at Beckton Gas Works, a testament to Woodall’s legacy. But when the gasworks closed in 1969, the statue was moved. It found a new home here, in this memorial garden, a peaceful space dedicated to the memory of gas workers who lost their lives in the World Wars. Sir Corbett Woodall, though not a casualty of war himself, stands as a silent guardian. He represents the spirit of innovation, leadership, and care for the workforce.