Phoenix Gas Co
Phoenix Gaslight and Coke Co
1814 The gas works at Bankside started operation - the first gasworks on the south bank of the Thames. It was owned by Mr Munro and Mr Evans.
1821 The South London Gas Light and Coke Co acquired the Bankside gasworks.
1822 The gasworks were rebuilt
1824 The Bankside gasworks site was extended
1824 The Phoenix Gas Light and Coke Company was established by Act of Parliament and acquired the Bankside Works.
1825 Phoenix Gas Light and Coke Company, No. 61, Bankside, advertised for buyers of coke[1]
1824 (?) The company changed its name to the Phoenix Gas Co[2].
1824-5 The Phoenix Gas Light & Coke Co purchased a gasworks being built on Norway Street, Greenwich. Land on Thames Street was also acquired. This became the site of the West Greenwich Gasworks
The Bankside site later became the main works and head office of the Phoenix Gas Light & Coke Co.
1840 New retort house opened.
1847 Purchased the Vauxhall works from the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Co, situated between Vauxhall Bridge and the River Effra.
1848 Had branch works at Greenwich.
1848 Opened extensive new gas works at the South-eastern end of Vauxhall Bridge.
1864 The Vauxhall works were extended west of the river.
1873 One of 9 companies supplying gas to the London metropolis.[3]
1880 After many years of keen rivalry, the Phoenix Company was merged with the South Metropolitan Gas Co, the operations of which are thus considered to date back one hundred years from 1924 though, as a matter of fact, it itself was not formed till five years later than its rival, namely in 1829[4][5]. Sir Corbet Woodall was Engineer at both sites between 1869 and 1880.
c.1900 the Bankside gasworks were using inclined retorts.
1938 Gas production ceased at Bankside and site sold as the East Greenwich and other gas works provided the capacity needed, and to permit the erection of a large electricity works.
1949 The gas industry was nationalised
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] National Archives
- The Manufactured Gas Industry in England: Volume 3 Gazetteer. Historic England