A photograph of Biddulph Gasworks taken in the 1970s, showing the large and small gasholders, and the railway cottages appear on the left. [Source: BDGHS]
A Brief History
Nationally gas works and gasometers were in evident in the 1820s, locally Congleton had a gasworks from 1832. In the Biddulph Valley the works of the Biddulph, Bradley Green and Black Bull Gas Co, Ltd were situated in Chapel Street (Station Road) at Gillow Shaw Brook, this gasworks first opened on the 16th December 1865. Bradley Green Colliery owner Mr. William Bradbury was their chairman and he presided at a dinner held at the Royal Oak in Bradley Green to celebrate the opening of the new works (see report below). His colliery may well have supplied the gasworks with their coal from their own sidings in those early days. References to the gasworks have been found but sadly no old photographs. There was a Mr. B. Furnivall signified in 1872-80 as lease holder of the gas works and we know Mr. Walter Wright worked there in the 1870s. The gas was made in two retorts and stored in a small gasholder, a larger gasometer was built later when the demand increased and three more sets of retorts were built.
In a recorded interview with Derek Wheelhouse during the 1960s, local man Gordon Holland whose family lived at Brockcroft Farm recalls stories of the gasworks during the time his uncle Jim was a fireman and lamp lighter there from c1910. Jim was one of three men working on the retorts, this was very heavy work for these five retorts required over forty shovels of coal beans to feed them, the highest retorts being six or seven foot from the ground and with a ten foot long firebox it took strength and dexterity on the part of the fireman to throw in the coal to the far end of the retort. The sealed and fired up retort would then produce the drawn off gas which had to be separated from the tar, this tar was sold to householders and local companies.
Photograph left: Mr. Gordon Holland who gave much valuable information to Derek Wheelhouse in 1960.
He lived in Congleton Road Biddulph although his wider family farmed at Brockcroft. [Source: Michael Turnock collection]
“I remember as a lad in the 1940s going with my dad to the gasworks for a can of tar which we used for coating our sheds and hen cotes.” The manufactured gas was now cleaned and pumped through pipes into the gas holder. The burnt off coal would then be raked out of the retort as red hot coke and again this coke was sold on, the whole process was then repeated. Jim Holland also went around Bradley Green on a bike lighting lamps with a pole and later checking the clockwork timers as he also serviced the street gas lamps in the village.
The works had a tall brick chimney for the removal of smoke and fumes, in later years this hexagon chimney was replaced with a smaller one. In the 1920-30s Chatterley Whitfield coal was used in the retorts being delivered from Biddulph station using horse and cart by carter Mr. Whitehurst. Known to his mates as Old Cherry, he lived in Stringer Street and he would work all day moving this coal. In 2010 his great nephew Arthur Whitehurst told me in another interview for a different project of his great uncle also carting coal from Robert Heath’s Wharf Road coal yard in about 1915 using his two horses which he stabled in Stringer Street.
Gordon was asked by Derek if he’d seen any early photographs of the Biddulph Gasworks. He replied he’d been there on many occasions when the works and retorts were photographed and at one time had copies himself but their whereabout is now sadly lost. In my own local history collection there are only a few photos of the gasworks but none detailed and certainly not of the early era, however the BDGHS archive has a good 1960s aerial photograph of the Biddulph gasworks showing the two gasholders (see above). According to Kelly’s Directory the Biddulph, Bradley Green and Black Bull Gas Co Ltd was certainly still operating in the 1890s and there’s a company report and accounts dated 1897 (below) held in the BDGHS archives.
There is also a report of the 1865 opening dinner meeting and the 1867 AGM notes. (These two reports are shown as originally written).
Opening of Biddulph, Bradley Green and Black Bull Gasworks. 16th December 1865
The opening of these works and the first lighting of gas manufactured there was celebrated on Friday instant after a director meeting in afternoon, sat down to dinner at Royal Oak with which did credit to Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Sherratt. {landlord} Mr. William Bradbury chairman of company presided. Mr. R. Spencer Company Engineer believed that in another fortnight all difficulties would be cleared away. Mr. R. Heaton. Projection of Company. The works are situated at Bradley Green, about 2 miles of mains are already laid extending to Biddulph Grange and no doubt before long they will be carried to Red Cross Knypersley and other locations. At present the consumers are amongst private establishments and houses but there’s no reason to hope that the benefits of good lighting will be ultimately extended to the streets of these rapidly increasing locations.
3rd Annual General Meeting 9th February 1867
Reports work completed so far as contracts entered into, mains extended northwards to Biddulph Forge and southwards to Mr. Heath’s works a distance of 2 miles, these extensive works hadn’t been lighted up with gas. For the contract to continue mains to village of Black Bull and Brindley Ford. To accomplish this money borrowed from Bank. £40 profit upon last quarter of year, directors felt assured this would rapidly increase. It was not intention to declares dividend for last year.
These two reports (above) are transcripts of hand written notes copied in the 1960s by Derek Wheelhouse from gasworks reports, which are now lost. These notes recently came to light in Derek Wheelhouse’s own collection.
We know Mr. Thomas Hudson Munro was the manager in 1892 and Mr. James Croxall took over in 1896 until 1900; and, in 1897/8 their Chairman was Mr. T. A. Daniel with Mr. P. N. Barlow the Secretary. By 1900 the Company Secretary was Mr. J. Kennerley. Oddly the Post Office Directory of 1868 shows Muschamp Simpson & Co. as proprietors of the Biddulph Gas Works, which is somewhat conflicting with other research. It appears the works was only just financially viable during the early years and during the Great War it regularly made a loss, £883 in 1916. However a plant value of some £5,000 and it being in a “very fairly good state of repair” was recorded. The company were hopeful an increase in gas demand would soon be seen due to more houses in Bradley Green being required for the workers at Robert Heaths Black Bull iron works
The Suburban Trade Directory of 1907 tells us the Works was operating under the title Biddulph Gas Company. During the early Great War years the manager was Mr. Harry Simcock who tragically lost his six year old daughter Mary when she ran from the gasworks entrance into the path of the Coop delivery horse and cart coming down Chapel Street. Other known managers were Mr. Hood and then forty four year old Mr. Edward Atkin in 1917. Gordon Holland remembers there being a pear tree in the garden of Mr. Atkin at Gasworks House, Gordon’s uncles field at Brockcroft Farm was situated next to the Gasworks House garden so Gordon jumped over a low hedge hoping for a nice juicy pear but fell straight into the hands of Mr. Atkin who then “tanked him,” Gordon never told his uncle about the incident.
In the November 1908 minutes of the North Staffordshire Railway Co. a proposal to lay a gas main long the Biddulph Valley Line from Brunswick Wharf Congleton to Biddulph was made, this venture was withdrawn a month later.
Above: Minutes of North Staffordshire Railway Company re gas main on Biddulph Valley Line 1908. [Roland Machin collection]
The Biddulph Urban District Council (BUDC) again considered purchasing gas from Congleton gasworks in 1932 although again nothing conspired. From 1908 discussions were held with the BUDC regarding the purchase of the works, although it was 1912 before an offer of £3,500 was agreed, at that time the gas company’s average profits were £225 per year, a report mentioned “only been able to hold its own”. After a further delay the BUDC purchased the works in December 1913 having obtained a £10,000 loan for the works and the construction of new retorts, purifiers, rotary washer-scrubber, station meter house, gas holder, laying new mains and erecting more street lights (see Appendix 1). Their chairman during 1921 to 1924 was Mr. William Butler. BUDC operated the gasworks for twenty five years, mainly at a loss, until they negotiated and agreed to sell the works in 1938 to Gas Consolidated Ltd. (GCL) for £10,000.
Photograph left: Mr. Edward Atkin, Manager 1917-40,
and wife Rebecca.
An article in the Congleton and Macclesfield Mercury newspaper of 26th January 1940 reports on those negotiations between BUDC and Mr. Raymond Beech of Gas Consolidated Ltd. The Biddulph Gasworks was still in the charge of manager Mr. Atkin until illness prevented him preforming his duties.
Mr. Bernard Atkin, his son who already worked at the gasworks, then temporarily took over his father’s role. Continuing the newspaper article quotes there were serious problems at the works due to shortage of labour for stoking the retorts. In the war years some delivery vans were converted to gas fuelled due to shortage of petrol.
Roland Machin tells a story of their well-known family bakery, “when the bakers noticed the pressure went low on their gas powered internal combustion engine that drove the machinery in the bakery, they’d send a lad down to the gasworks to ask them to up the gas pressure - supply”.
Gasworks House, former home of the managers, during renovations in 2011. The entrance to Brockcroft Farm was where the cars stand.
[M. J. Turnock collection]
Mr. Edward Atkin who had been the BUDC gasworks manager since 1917, after a long illness sadly died in January 1940. Mr. Atkin lived in the Biddulph Gasworks House with wife Rebecca, a daughter and four sons. He was very well respected gentleman, a native of Spalding where his funeral was held. Many floral tributes were received from friends and colleagues amongst them wreaths from Biddulph Unionist Club and Biddulph Urban District Council.
Death of Biddulph Gas Works Manager
MR. EDWARD ATKIN
Widespread regret has been occasioned in the Biddulph district by the death, following an operation at the North Staffs. Infirmary of Mr. Edward Atkin, Manager of the local Gas Undertaking. Mr. Atkin, who had been ill for some time, resided in Station Road, and was aged 67. A native of Spalding, he was appointed to the managership at Biddulph in 1917 following a period at the gas undertaking in his home town. He was generally liked and respected, and deep sympathy is extended to the widow and family of one daughter and four sons, the eldest of whom is the Rev. Leon Atkin, Congregational Minister at Swansea. Another son, Mr. Bernard Atkin, is a member of the staff at the local gas undertaking.
The funeral will take place at Spalding, probably on Monday.
[Death of Edward Atkin January 1940]
In 1940 Mr. Percy Whalley the foreman at the Gasworks was promoted; he became manager at the works and his family moved home to live in the Gasworks House, previously it’s believed they lived in nearby Station Road. Percy remained manager until he died in 1951, after which Bernard Atkin, son of Edward took over as manager until retiring in 1968.
Photograph of Mr. Percy Whalley manager from 1940 to 1951. [Source: Kevin Whalley]
The supply of gas for Biddulph continued under GCL until the late 1940s when the gas industry was nationalised in May 1949 and organised into twelve area boards, Biddulph came under the West Midlands Gas Board. Soon after a decision was then taken to close down the retorts at Gillow Shaw Brook.
After the retorts closed gas for the Biddulph Valley was obtained from the massive gasworks of the Birchenwood Coal and Coke Co. at Kidsgrove and piped to Biddulph, initially stored in the small gasholder at Station Road. After the Second World War when demand outstripped the storage capacity due to a further increase in house building a decision was taken to construct a much larger grey-green coloured gasholder, this was built in the 1950s.
The main road through Biddulph the A527 was gas lit until November 1957 then a major project was carried out from Brindley Ford to Grange corner to remove the gas lamps and replace them with electric lamps. Electricity had first arrived in Biddulph in 1934. These old gas lamps being of a superior type of lamp were then used in gas lit streets throughout Biddulph. A further little story Adrian Lawton remembers of a large strong well-built gasman whose name alludes him, being able to carry these old heavy cast iron lamps over his shoulder without any help. By 1967 a further development was the introduction of Natural Gas (North Sea Gas) which was being rolled out on a national ten year programme in the UK. Natural Gas came to Biddulph c1971 when home appliances required conversion to the new gas.
The interior of the Gasworks House offered the ground floor as offices and storage, with the family living on the first floor. A report with a photograph from a 1960 Biddulph Chronicle tells of ninety year old Mrs. Rebecca Atkin returning to Biddulph for a stay with her son Bernard the then gasworks manager who lived in Gasworks House. Adrian Lawton recalls as a small boy in the 1950s visiting the Gasworks House with his parents to pay their gas bill to Mr. Bernard Atkin, later bills were paid at the gas agency in Basson’s Post Office on the corner of High Street and Well Street. The Lawton family also collecting a can of tar from the gasworks used to paint the bottom of their backyard wall. Today the Gasworks House has been renovated and is a large family home.
It’s believed the Biddulph Gasworks ceased operations and the large gas holder demolished in the late 1980s. The site in present times is occupied by small commercial premises and housing, only the area of the old gasholder is left abandoned. Congleton gasworks ceased working and was demolished in the mid-1960s when the town’s gas supply came from Stoke on Trent.
The Gasworks from a 1877 plan. [Source: BDGHS]
Appendix 1
THE LONDON GAZETTE, 22 NOVEMBER, 1912.
Local Government Board. Session 1913.
BIDDULPH GAS (PROVISIONAL ORDER). (Power to Biddulph Urban District Council to Purchase the Undertaking of the Biddulph, Bradley Green and Black Bull Gas Company Limited, and to Manufacture Gas and Residuals; Purchase of Lands; Supply of Gas and Fittings, and Protection of Same Against Distress; Rates; Borrowing Powers; General Provisions; Incorporation of Acts, &c.)
NOTICE is hereby given, that the urban district Council of Biddulph, in the county of Stafford (in this notice referred to as “the Council”) intend, pursuant to the Public Health Act, 1875, and the Gas and Water Works Facilities Act, 1870, to apply to the Local Government Board for a Provisional Order for the following powers (that is to say):-
1. To enable the Council to purchase and acquire the Gas Works and premises, with the freehold land and hereditaments forming the site thereof, and all plant, engine, machinery, utensils, implements, and effects in, upon, or about the premises, and the undertaking, lands, easements, property (both real and personal), rights and privileges of the Biddulph, Bradley Green and Black Bull Gas Company Limited (in this notice referred to as “the Company”), and to confirm any agreement that may be entered into for this purpose or connected therewith.
2. To authorize the Council to maintain and continue the existing Gas Works and plant, and to alter and enlarge the existing Gas Works, situate within the urban district of Biddulph aforesaid by enlarging, erecting, altering and constructing new retort settings, new purifiers, new rotary washer-scrubber, new station meter house, and new gas holder, and from time to time to construct, extend, enlarge, alter, or remove any gas works and dwellings for any persons employed in the said works, and to make, purchase and supply gas within the urban district of Biddulph (in this notice referred to as “the District”) for public and private purposes, and to convert or manufacture, store, sell and dispose of, any coke, culm, asphaltum, pitch, tar, ammoniacal liquor or any other residual product.
3. The lands intended to be used for the manufacture and storage of gas under the said Order belong to and are in the occupation of the Company, and are situate in the parish of and urban district of Biddulph, and may be shortly described as follows:- All that plot of land situate within the urban district of Biddulph, in the county of Stafford, on which are erected the existing gas works and buildings of the Company, which contain by admeasurement 3,202 square yards or thereabouts, bounded on the north by Gillowshaw Brook and land belonging, or reputed to belong, to Ellen Jane Cavanagh Mainwaring; on the east and south by land belonging, or reputed to belong, to Edith Lowndes and Sarah Cope; and on the west partly by land belonging, or reputed to belong, to the United Velvet Cutters’ Association Limited, and partly by land belonging, or reputed to belong, to Edith Lowndes and Sarah Cope.
4. To authorize the Council to purchase by agreement, or take on lease for the purpose of the gas works, such land as may be hereafter required, or to appropriate any lands for the time being vested in them for that purpose.
5. To empower the Council to manufacture, purchase, store and supply gas for public and private purposes within the district, and for that purpose to break up streets and roads and highways, and lay down, maintain and renew gas mains, pipes and other works and apparatus, and to sell or let on hire, supply or otherwise deal in, and fix, set up or alter any prepayment and other meters, engine, oven, stove, range, pipe or burner, or any other apparatus for the use of gas, and to exempt all such articles and things from liability to distress or being taken in execution under process of law or in proceedings in bankruptcy, and to exercise all such powers as are necessary for and incidental to the supply of gas, and to sell and deal in coal, coke, culm, asphaltum pitch, tar, oil, ammoniacal liquors and other residual products and things.
6. To empower the Council to levy rates and charges for the supply of gas, and for the hire and use of meters and fittings, and, if thought fit, to alter existing rates, and to vary and extinguish all rights and privileges (if any) inconsistent with the carrying out of the object of the said Order.
7. To authorize the Council to acquire, hold and use patent rights and licences in connection with the manufacture of gas and residuals arising therefrom.
8. To authorize the Council to make, enter into and carry into effect agreements and contracts with any body, person or local authority for the purchase or sale of gas in bulk or otherwise, and for supplying gas fittings and other things.
9. To empower the Council to borrow money for the purposes of the transfer and taking over the said property and works of the Company, and for the purposes of the gas works and gas supply, and of the Order (including the costs thereof), and to secure the money so borrowed upon the moneys from time to time received by them by way of revenue under the Order, and upon the district fund and general district late of the district or any of them.
10. To prescribe the quality of illuminating power of gas supplied by the Council, and for testing the same, and to exempt the Council from any penalty for insufficiency of pressure defect of illuminating power, or excess of impurity of gas supplied, and to make provisions with regard to prepayment for gas; to enable the Council to refuse to supply gas to persons in debt to them in respect of other premises; to require notice by consumers before quitting premises supplied with gas; to require notice of discontinuance to be in writing; to prescribe a period of error in defective meters; and to make provisions in regard to the payment of interest on deposits, the allowance of discounts to consumers, the making of bye-laws, the use of anti-fluctuaters, the prevention of waste and misuse of gas, and other matters incidental to the objects of the Order.
11. To incorporate with the said Order and to confer upon the Council, with or without alteration, all or some of the powers and provisions of the Gas Works Clauses Act, 1847, the Gas Works Clauses Act, 1871, the Lands Clauses Acts, the Local Loans Act, 1875, and the Public Health Acts, or so much of those Acts as may be applicable to the case Of a local authority supplying gas.
12. To do all things necessary to carry on the undertaking of the Council as defined in the Draft Provisional Order.
And notice is hereby further given, that on or before the 30th day of November, 1912, a copy of this Notice as published in the London Gazette, and a map of the land proposed to be used for the manufacture of gas, or of residual products arising in the manufacture of gas, and a plan and section of the proposed new works will be deposited at the offices of the Local Government Board, Whitehall, and for public inspection with the Clerk of the Peace for the County of Stafford, at his offices at Stafford.
On and after the 23rd day of December, 1912, printed copies of the draft Provisional Order as deposited at the offices of the Local Government Board can be obtained at the price of one shilling by all persons applying for the same at the offices of the Urban District Council at Biddulph, in the county of Stafford, and at the offices of the Solicitor and Clerk to the Council at 3, Chapel-street, Congleton, in the county of Chester. Any company, corporation, or person desirous of bringing before the Local Government Board any objection respecting this application may do so by letter addressed to the “Secretary of the Local Government Board, Whitehall, London, S.W.,” to be lodged with the said Board on or before the 15th day of January next ensuing, and a copy of such objection must at the same time be sent to the Clerk to the Council, at his office at 3, Chapel-street, Congleton aforesaid. In forwarding such objection to the Local Government Board the objector or his agent must state that he has at the same time forwarded to the local offices.
© 2020 Michael Turnock