East Greenwich Gas Works
Encyclopedia
The East Greenwich Gas Works of the South Metropolitan Gas Company was the last gas works to be built in London, and the most modern. Originally manufacturing town gas from coal brought in by river and exporting coke
and chemicals, the plant was adapted to produce gas from oil in the 1960s. Nothing remains but a single gas holder, built in 1886.
by the Thames
in south-east London
, the works was built between 1881 and 1886. Most of the works was built on a greenfield site
on Greenwich Marshes. The start of work on the site was complicated by proposals to build a dock system on the peninsula, similar to that on the Isle of Dogs
across the river. Originally proposed in the 1850s, this plan was resurrected in the 1880s, but eventually came to nothing.
and covering some 240 acre (0.9712464 km²). The works took over the chemical works of Frank Hills at Phoenix Wharf on the east side of the peninsula, which already used tar
and ammonia
from existing gas works.
In 1889 (during a time of labour unrest including the 1889 dock strike
) under the leadership of Will Thorne
the workforce resigned en masse in an attempt to prevent a profit-sharing scheme with anti-strike clauses. Livesey successfully brought in labour from outside to replace the workforce.
The site had two very large gas holders. The first, built in 1886 and of 8600000 cubic feet (243,524.9 m³) was the world's first 'four lift' (moving section) holder. The second, with six lifts and originally the largest in the world at 12200000 cubic feet (345,465.5 m³), was reduced to 8900000 cubic feet (252,019.9 m³) when it was damaged in the Silvertown explosion
in 1917, but was still the largest in England until it was damaged again by a Provisional Irish Republican Army
bomb in 1978. It was later demolished. An extensive internal railway system carried coal from a large coaling pier to the rest of the plant.
In the 1920s the Government Fuel Research Station next to the works (on land owned by the company) began research into coal liquefaction
in order to make petroleum. It also performed surveys of the properties of coal, and is believed to have carried out chemical weapons research. This closed in 1958, its work transferring to the Warren Spring Laboratory.
Following nationalisation of the gas industry in 1949 the plant was taken over by the South Eastern Gas Board, later passing to British Gas plc
.
In the early 1960s oil gasification plant was introduced, greatly increasing capacity. In 1965 the site produced around 400000000 cubic feet (11,326,738.8 m³) of gas, the largest in the world for a single site. After introduction of North Sea gas production ceased in 1976. The gasification plant was mothballed for many years, but eventually demolished.
A striking pre-cast concrete shed at Phoenix Wharf for storage of ammonium sulphate with a parabolic
roof was used as a site for film shoots in the 1990s. It was demolished on the pretext that illegal rave
parties were held there.
. Around 120 tons of benzene
and other hydrocarbon
s was removed from the soil. Further decontamination was performed by English Partnerships
.
Redevelopment began in the late 1990s, the first development being the Millennium Dome
, originally intended to be a temporary structure to be removed after 2000. The site is covered by many developments, principally the The O2
, North Greenwich tube station
, David Beckham Academy
, a retail park and multiplex cinema, a hotel, primary school, Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park
and Greenwich Millennium Village
. Several sites remain to be developed. Two small sections of the plant's coaling jetty are preserved as part of North Greenwich Pier, one acting as the base for Anthony Gormley's sculpture Quantum Cloud
.
Coke (fuel)
Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made.- History :...
and chemicals, the plant was adapted to produce gas from oil in the 1960s. Nothing remains but a single gas holder, built in 1886.
Location
Located on the Greenwich PeninsulaGreenwich Peninsula
Greenwich Peninsula is an area of South London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.The peninsula is bounded on three sides by a loop of the Thames, between the Isle of Dogs and Silvertown. To the south is the rest of Greenwich, to the south-east is Charlton.The peninsula lies...
by the Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in south-east London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the works was built between 1881 and 1886. Most of the works was built on a greenfield site
Greenfield land
Greenfield land is a term used to describe undeveloped land in a city or rural area either used for agriculture, landscape design, or left to naturally evolve...
on Greenwich Marshes. The start of work on the site was complicated by proposals to build a dock system on the peninsula, similar to that on the Isle of Dogs
Isle of Dogs
The Isle of Dogs is a former island in the East End of London that is bounded on three sides by one of the largest meanders in the River Thames.-Etymology:...
across the river. Originally proposed in the 1850s, this plan was resurrected in the 1880s, but eventually came to nothing.
History
The works was built under the auspices of the South Metropolitan Gas Company's chairman George Livesey. Before construction could begin many tons of clinker and heavy rubbish were dumped in order to build up the marshy ground. The gas works eventually occupied most of the east and centre of the peninsula, stretching for around 2 kilometre from Blackwall Point, southeast towards New CharltonNew Charlton
New Charlton is the area along the south bank of the River Thames at Charlton, London, and forms part of the London Borough of Greenwich. It was historically primarily an industrial zone.-History:...
and covering some 240 acre (0.9712464 km²). The works took over the chemical works of Frank Hills at Phoenix Wharf on the east side of the peninsula, which already used tar
Coal tar
Coal tar is a brown or black liquid of extremely high viscosity, which smells of naphthalene and aromatic hydrocarbons. Coal tar is among the by-products when coal iscarbonized to make coke or gasified to make coal gas...
and ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
from existing gas works.
In 1889 (during a time of labour unrest including the 1889 dock strike
London Dock Strike of 1889
The London Dock Strike was an industrial dispute involving dock workers in the Port of London. It broke out on 14 August 1889, and resulted in a victory for the strikers and established strong trade unions amongst London dockers, one of which became the nationally important Dock, Wharf, Riverside...
) under the leadership of Will Thorne
Will Thorne
William James Thorne CBE , known as Will Thorne, was a British trade unionist, activist and one of the first Labour Members of Parliament .-Early years:...
the workforce resigned en masse in an attempt to prevent a profit-sharing scheme with anti-strike clauses. Livesey successfully brought in labour from outside to replace the workforce.
The site had two very large gas holders. The first, built in 1886 and of 8600000 cubic feet (243,524.9 m³) was the world's first 'four lift' (moving section) holder. The second, with six lifts and originally the largest in the world at 12200000 cubic feet (345,465.5 m³), was reduced to 8900000 cubic feet (252,019.9 m³) when it was damaged in the Silvertown explosion
Silvertown explosion
The Silvertown explosion occurred in Silvertown in West Ham, Essex on Friday, 19 January 1917 at 6.52 pm. The blast occurred at a munitions factory that was manufacturing explosives for Britain's World War I military effort...
in 1917, but was still the largest in England until it was damaged again by a Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
bomb in 1978. It was later demolished. An extensive internal railway system carried coal from a large coaling pier to the rest of the plant.
In the 1920s the Government Fuel Research Station next to the works (on land owned by the company) began research into coal liquefaction
Coal liquefaction
-Methods:The liquefaction processes are classified as direct conversion to liquids processes and indirect conversion to liquids processeses. Direct processes are carbonization and hydrogenation.-Pyrolysis and carbonization processes:...
in order to make petroleum. It also performed surveys of the properties of coal, and is believed to have carried out chemical weapons research. This closed in 1958, its work transferring to the Warren Spring Laboratory.
Following nationalisation of the gas industry in 1949 the plant was taken over by the South Eastern Gas Board, later passing to British Gas plc
British Gas plc
British Gas plc was formerly the monopoly gas supplier and is a private sector in the United Kingdom.- History :In the early 1900s the gas market in the United Kingdom was mainly run by county councils and small private firms...
.
In the early 1960s oil gasification plant was introduced, greatly increasing capacity. In 1965 the site produced around 400000000 cubic feet (11,326,738.8 m³) of gas, the largest in the world for a single site. After introduction of North Sea gas production ceased in 1976. The gasification plant was mothballed for many years, but eventually demolished.
A striking pre-cast concrete shed at Phoenix Wharf for storage of ammonium sulphate with a parabolic
Parabola
In mathematics, the parabola is a conic section, the intersection of a right circular conical surface and a plane parallel to a generating straight line of that surface...
roof was used as a site for film shoots in the 1990s. It was demolished on the pretext that illegal rave
Rave
Rave, rave dance, and rave party are parties that originated mostly from acid house parties, which featured fast-paced electronic music and light shows. At these parties people dance and socialize to dance music played by disc jockeys and occasionally live performers...
parties were held there.
Decontamination and redevelopment
Initial decontamination was carried out by BAM Nuttall for British Gas, with the development being known as Port Greenwich. This included excavation to 15 metres (49.2 ft) to remove tar from the aquifer and driving a 100 metres (328.1 ft) diameter sheet pile ring into the London ClayLondon Clay
The London Clay Formation is a marine geological formation of Ypresian age which crops out in the southeast of England. The London Clay is well known for the fossils it contains. The fossils from the Lower Eocene indicate a moderately warm climate, the flora being tropical or subtropical...
. Around 120 tons of benzene
Benzene
Benzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
and other hydrocarbon
Hydrocarbon
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons from which one hydrogen atom has been removed are functional groups, called hydrocarbyls....
s was removed from the soil. Further decontamination was performed by English Partnerships
English Partnerships
English Partnerships was the national regeneration agency for England, performing a similar role on a national level to that fulfilled by Regional Development Agencies on a regional level...
.
Redevelopment began in the late 1990s, the first development being the Millennium Dome
Millennium Dome
The Millennium Dome, colloquially referred to simply as The Dome or even The O2 Arena, is the original name of a large dome-shaped building, originally used to house the Millennium Experience, a major exhibition celebrating the beginning of the third millennium...
, originally intended to be a temporary structure to be removed after 2000. The site is covered by many developments, principally the The O2
The O2 (London)
The O2, visually typeset in branding as The O2, is a large entertainment district on the Greenwich peninsula in South East London, England, including an indoor arena, a music club, a Cineworld cinema, an exhibition space, piazzas, bars and restaurants...
, North Greenwich tube station
North Greenwich tube station
North Greenwich is a station on London Underground's Jubilee Line, opened on 14 May 1999.Despite its name, North Greenwich is not in the area historically known as North Greenwich, on the Isle of Dogs, north of the river; an entirely different station used to be there, between 1872 and 1926...
, David Beckham Academy
David Beckham Academy
The David Beckham Academy is a football school founded by England international David Beckham in 2005. , it operates in two locations: in London, United Kingdom, and in Los Angeles, California, United States, though the London location closed in early 2010 .Further Academy sites are planned at...
, a retail park and multiplex cinema, a hotel, primary school, Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park
The Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park is park situated along the River Thames in the Greenwich Peninsula in South London. The park reflects the nature of the original marshland on the peninsula. The park provides a haven for many different species of bird, plants and bugs and acts as an important...
and Greenwich Millennium Village
Greenwich Millennium Village
The Greenwich Millennium Village is an innovative mixed-tenure modern housing estate on an urban village model located on the Greenwich Peninsula in Greenwich in south-east London, and part of the Millennium Communities Programme under English Partnerships...
. Several sites remain to be developed. Two small sections of the plant's coaling jetty are preserved as part of North Greenwich Pier, one acting as the base for Anthony Gormley's sculpture Quantum Cloud
Quantum Cloud
Antony Gormley's Quantum Cloud was commissioned for a site next to the Millennium Dome in London. At 30 metres high, it is Gormley's tallest sculpture to date . It is constructed from a collection of tetrahedral units made from 1.5 m long sections of steel...
.
See also
- Beckton Gas WorksBeckton Gas WorksBeckton Gas Works was a major London gas works built to manufacture coal gas and other products including coke from coal. It has been variously described as 'the largest such plant in the world' and 'the largest gas works in Europe'. It operated from 1870 to 1969, with an associated by-products...
- Southall Gas WorksSouthall Gas WorksSouthall Gas Works is a site of around in Southall, west London, formerly occupied by a plant for the manufacture of town gas. Today a much reduced site is used for the pressure reduction and storage of natural gas and the remainder of the site is the subject of planning proposals.-Location:The...
- Imperial Gas Works, Fulham
- Nine Elms Gas Works
External links
- http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=52856Mr MacDonaldRamsay MacDonaldJames Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
at Greenwich Fuel Research Station - British Pathe newsreel]