Abingdon gasworks
Map published by Ordnance Survey Office, Southampton in 1883
Reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Scotland
Click or tap to see a larger image
Map published by Ordnance Survey Office, Southampton in 1912
Reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Scotland
Map published by Ordnance Survey Office, Southampton in 1883
Reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Scotland
Click or tap to see a larger image
Map published by Ordnance Survey Office, Southampton in 1912
Reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Scotland
As far as we can determine, the Abingdon Gas Light and Coke Company first came into being in about 1828. The gasworks were established by the river as seen on the first map which was based on an 1875 survey and published in 1883. Industries which required the delivery of fuel and raw materials in bulk were located beside canals or navigable rivers and the gasworks in Abingdon was no exception with coal being delivered by barges on the Thames. Increasing demand for gas led the company to enlarge its gasholder in the late 1830s, and to erect a second one in about 1870. Both these gasholders can be seen on the map from 1883.
Demand continued to rise and the site by the river was proving inadequate. Abingdon had gained a rail connection in 1856 and it was more economical and easier to transport coal by rail rather than by barge. Inevitably therefore, in 1885, it was proposed to buy a plot of land close to the railway and relocate the gasworks to where it could be served by a short siding. The new gasworks came on-stream in the September of 1887 and the old site was put up for sale a few months later. A larger version of the 1912 map can be seen by clicking or tapping the thumbnail image.
Gas was used not only for both domestic and street lighting, cooking and heating, but also to power gas engines. At the AGM of 1885 it was noted that gas was being supplied to three gas engines in Abingdon. Before electricity became widely available they were a convenient source of power as, being fed directly from the local gas supply, they did not need boilers or require the storge of fuel such as coal or fuel oil. The major supplier of such engines was Crossley Brothers of Manchester. In 1901 one of their engines was installed in the basement of the County Hall to pump water into a header tank in the roof as part of the town's water supply. In 1906 this was replaced by two new Crossley engines
One of the two Crossley engines
as seen in 2023, still in situ, which saw service until 1947. Gas engines were to be found elsewhere in Abingdon, at a corn milling business in the Old Gaol, Cottrell’s butchers used one to power their refrigerators, the furnace blower at Ballards Foundry in Bath Street was powered by one, the carpet factory had one to power a carpet beating machine, and the Workhouse also had at least one to pump their water supply. Going slightly outside Abingdon, the manually operated bellows of the organ in the original Chapel at Radley College were replaced in 1889 by a blower powered by a Crossley gas engine.
Unknown photographer, author's collection
The Oxford Gas Light and Coke Company was incorporated in 1818 and grew in size and scope taking over many smaller local gas producers. The company was renamed the Oxford and District Gas Company in 1930 when they took over the Abingdon Gas Light and Coke Company Ltd. in its entirety. They had initially gained the powers to supply gas in bulk to Abingdon in 1924.
There seem to be very few photographs showing either of the gasworks, so we were pleased to purchase this one from the early 1950s which shows the siding entering the gasworks site through a gate on the extreme left. An autocoach is standing on a spur alongside the gasworks which gave access to the maltings sidings back across the diamond crossing. The gasworks siding fell out of use towards the end of the 1950s when local gas production ceased.
