Worked on most of the gas holders in Scotland. I decommissioned Provan, Dundee, Dunfermline, Leven, Cowdenbeath, Hamilton, but fondly remember working in them for many years. No one liked them. I loved them. Great times.
Another excellent video thanks Ed. I am a New Zealander and live in NZ. When I was a young man back in the late 1970s, I actually worked in Granton and could clearly see the gas works from the yard I worked in. Fond memories. Thanks for sharing.
Another great video Ed, well researched and presented. Also, I must say that your music on this one, especially over the end credits, is some of the best I have heard you create.
The big gasometer in Wishaw, just up from the new Wishaw General Hospital, was only demolished a few years ago. Ed please keep doing what you're doing my friend, these videos you make are more than a hobby for you, they are essential public information films telling the story of Industrial Scotland! Brilliant, absolutely brilliant, bravo 👏👏👏🏴🏴🏴
Hi Ed , I worked next to the gas station in Hamilton when the gas tank and buildings were still their, in fact the rails run across the street from the Central train station to the gas station in order for the coal wagons to get there. "Graham Street". and I can remember using the coal after they had removed the Gas from it. It was called coke, a charcoal like substance, And it still gave off fumes when burnt. Now that was a long time a go. Cheers Bill
Gas from coal was a process of cooking the Coal to remove the Gas, And a byproduct of this was Coke, the word came from the phrase of "Cooking the Coal. One of the last coal Gas sites Production was in Kirkconnel in Ayrshire. And BTW, ED, it's another good one.
Scotland led this industry right to its end In 1960 the Lurgi Process Gasworks opened at Westfield, Fife. It used low quality coal to produce gas at high pressure, enabling it to supply a wide area from Dundee across Fife & central Scotland (exc Edin &Glas where conversion to oil as a feedstock kept industry alive att the end) meaning a large number of small town Gasworks could be closed , keeping the fuel economic by means of the first regional gas distribution network. Low quality coal ment the heating capacity of the gas suffered, but it was boosted back up to the requisite 500btu/cuft by injecting gas from the byproduct of oil refining across the water at Grangemouth. However, north sea gas had twice the thermal capacity at much lower cost, so conversion to natural gas from 1974 left the Lurgi plant unviable by 1980. Still much on site about 5 yrs ago. Great video of an industry only recently past.
It’s sad to see this country’s industry decline until there is nothing left, soon our last oil refinery will go the same way as our pits, iron foundries and gas works etc . I remember when I was young we were all encouraged to buy British whether it was our cloths or appliances. The amount of things this country discovered and invented all adopted by other countries and now selling back to us . Great video Ed 👏👏👏
Exactly. Clearly we have to transition in some way to save the planet. But we have enough coal here in Scotland and in the rest of the UK to cope with that transition. Why are we importing coal?
A great and interesting subject Ed. Your video was well produced, edited and narrated. I well remember the Gasworks in Callander in the 50's/60's. I think the coal was shipped from Fife on the railway. I remember the gasometers and the big blazing furnaces with two men shovelling coal into them. The heat and the smell were unique. 😉
More, more, bravo, bravo. Thanks Eddy (not sure if its Eddy or Eddie)? Love your research, maps, new and old and just your sense of what matters and what should 'get tae'. A true Scotsman who cares. Cheers
MY MOTHER USED TO PULL A ZINC BATH ON A HOMEMADE TROLLEY TO DALMARNOCK GASWORKS TO BUY CHAR = THE COAL AFTER THE GAS HAD BEEN EXTRACTED .WE BURNED IT IN THE KITCHEN FIRE .
In Forfar the burgh gas works was situated in Market Mews with its office on North Street. That building still stands as do a few stone walls at the rear. Everything else has been demolished. Likewise, the railway which once brought in the coal is long gone.
Hello Ed! Thank you for another interesting and informative video! I’m writing from California - and I’ve always wondered about those exact monstrosities every time I’m home visiting my Mum in Kelvindale!
Another fyne insight, Eddie. I have a pleasing view of the Gas tanks at Provan. Stories abounded that they were to be dismantled, to make way for the new barlinnie prison. Originally there was 3, 2 remain. Apparently they have a 'listed' status that British gas (or their chinese owners) were trying to over rule... I think Dublin (?) has turned one of theirs into a play park. Other supporters to preserve the structures have claimed apartment style living could be built within them. If anything; these structures should be preserved as a testament to when britain was great. Interestingly, my uncle was a leerie back in the early 70's. I recall him lighting tenement close heid lamps that were fuelled by gas, but don't recall him lighting street lights. Never knew about the Townhead gas works ahent provands lordship. Everyday's a school day Eddie! Cheers. Harri
There is a gas works museum in Biggar. A house that was built in the 80s on our old gas works land had to be pulled down after 10 years due to poisons accumulating from the contaminated ground. You are correct privatising nation critical Monopolies was foolish even worse creating false markets that lined the fanciers pockets .
Thank you for all the work you put into this, Ed🌟. In the early 80's my Gran lived in the "big flats" in Anniesland by the library and we could see the gas works from the window. Quite emotional thinking about it.
I was brought up in cambuslang, at the end of my street there were 2 gas towers , 1 massive one was green & the other was a bit smaller & blue. Next to it used to be a gas works (was shut down & demolished before I was born 64). You could smell the gas leak out of the towers. You could tell how much gas was in each tank by how high or low the rank was.
I agree with you Ed. It was the same in the Southeast US. Living 80 years, you see many change’s, some good and some not so good. They call it progress, and then looking back it’s hard to understand why we’re all in a confounding mess. Progress backwards to the future, with no regard for the actual needs of the people. I enjoyed your video. Take care. Lynn in Naples FL 😎💫
I remember the switchover to North sea gas and the bold statement that it would last well into the 2020's and I remember my dads comment, "aye very good, and then what do we do after that?" We are getting our answer now, depend on other countries for gas. Not that we could reinstate town gas as we have no coal mines left and I cant imagine the Green lobby ever tolerating the reopening of coal mining.
The gas works didn't burn much coal. In fact, touring a gas works in my childhood, I remember the guide saying that the most wasteful thing to do with coal was to burn it, which seemed a very strange thing to say. Coal was distilled in retorts. The coke and chemical bi-products were all collected and sold to manufacturing industry. The gas works produced little or no smoke, but I do remember the foul smell these works produced, almost enough to make a young child sick, and responsible for the low prices and rents of the houses in the immediate vicinity. Even humour at the time would use street names like 'Gas Works Lane' to indicate and undesirable place to live. You ask what went wrong? The simple answer is Thatcher. In her fury with the National Union of Mineworkers, she dismantled the domestic coal industry and destroyed our energy independence, leaving us vulnerable to threats from foreign powers. We even had to import coal. There was also natural gas from the North Sea, none of which remained in public ownership and, although a limited resource, needed to be sold to enrich her backers. The coal gas industry foundered with the lack of domestic coal.
all the major cities ,had their own coking plants, making gas, most major cities were self sufficient, water gas electric, run by the corporations, till alas privatisation,,
Conversation to Natural Gas was carried out in the early 70’s. Just when I started my apprenticeship as a Plumber/Heating Engineer. I can still recall the Gas Fitters converting Gas Fires, Cookers, Boilers, Water Geezers etc etc etc. Most Cities, Towns & villages that had a Gas Works & a Coal Gas Network, would’ve been wholly inadequate for the burgeoning Central Heating Industry. So not only the prospect of cheaper Gas, but antiquated infrastructures - all past their sell-by date. As is the case in most Nationalised industries, loss making & outdated. Maggie Thatcher had the right idea, there’s only one way to kill off powerful the Unions in any industry, close it down & shut the doors. It killed communism dead!! Great video, until you started on the Leftie politics Eddie.
Thanks Eddie, Industry of all types gone by the greed of the grasping. Maggie's view enrich the rich and inspire the poor, result enrich the rich and damn the poor, sell off the family silver and keep the wolf from the door, privatise knowing full well that only the rich can invest and prosper but the rich are not in the majority and the needy grow faster so she wins the battle and loses the war, same as today. Britain is poorer because we are no longer an independent UK, a powerhouse, a producing and self sustaining country. we need to start to develop and create again and no more reliance on other markets, bring the needs of the people of the UK back under the control of the people of the UK. OK rant over, we want to be green and environmentally friendly but can we afford to? America/Russia/China/India, they do not care! And they prosper. Thanks for a good video🤠
Gas holders were still in use in Scotland right into the 2000's, i know, i worked on them. Horrible, smelly, dirty, works, yet cleaverly designed to store gas gas when it wasn't needed, say 9.30 - till peak periods 4-7 p.m when the domestic load kicked in. Eyesores when they were built, yet a public outcry, including aviation bodies when they were getting pulled down.
The Utilities land on prime location that was once owned by us was sold off as a Brucey Bonus to Maggies chums something that is forgotten. Look at the ROF at Bishopton. That sold to British Aerospace who promptly moved propellant production to south Africa. It is now sold on as a vast housing estate more cash for Maggie's chums.
Were I grew up there were two huge gas tanks in the late 50's into the 60's when they were torn down. Railcars of coal were still plentiful and many homes were still heating with coal fired furnaces. The disappearance of these resources coincided with the collapse of the Shoe/Textile/Tannery Industry In New England. There were some tough times. Great video Ed. Thanks.
How very True and as a 92 year old remember the Gas street lighting and the Gasometers at Grnton Edinburgh.Thank You
Excellent topic once again Ed.
Bygone era, but still needs to be remembered.
Thanks Dougie.
Fascinating. My grampy had a job lighting the gas street lights.
Worked on most of the gas holders in Scotland. I decommissioned Provan, Dundee, Dunfermline, Leven, Cowdenbeath, Hamilton, but fondly remember working in them for many years. No one liked them. I loved them. Great times.
Another excellent video thanks Ed. I am a New Zealander and live in NZ. When I was a young man back in the late 1970s, I actually worked in Granton and could clearly see the gas works from the yard I worked in. Fond memories.
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers Bryce.
Another great video Ed, well researched and presented. Also, I must say that your music on this one, especially over the end credits, is some of the best I have heard you create.
Many thanks. I struggled a bit with this one to know what music would be appropriate.
Brilliant video Ed. It’s no surprise that Mrs T’s name comes up, when loss or decline in the UK is explored.
It's a complicated picture, but her name always crop up at the centre of all that went wrong.
THANK YOU ED, ITS GREAT TO KNOW SOMEONE EALSE WHO LOVES SCOTLAND FOR WHAT IT HAS DONE,
LOVE FRON THE EAST END OF GLESGA
Cheers. All the best.
The big gasometer in Wishaw, just up from the new Wishaw General Hospital, was only demolished a few years ago. Ed please keep doing what you're doing my friend, these videos you make are more than a hobby for you, they are essential public information films telling the story of Industrial Scotland! Brilliant, absolutely brilliant, bravo 👏👏👏🏴🏴🏴
Many thanks Greig.
Hi Ed , I worked next to the gas station in Hamilton when the gas tank and buildings were still their, in fact the rails run across the street from the Central train station to the gas station in order for the coal wagons to get there. "Graham Street". and I can remember using the coal after they had removed the Gas from it. It was called coke, a charcoal like substance, And it still gave off fumes when burnt. Now that was a long time a go. Cheers Bill
Thatcher was straight from Hades and to Hades she returned!
Gas from coal was a process of cooking the Coal to remove the Gas, And a byproduct of this was Coke, the word came from the phrase of "Cooking the Coal. One of the last coal Gas sites Production was in Kirkconnel in Ayrshire. And BTW, ED, it's another good one.
Cheers Charles.
Scotland led this industry right to its end
In 1960 the Lurgi Process Gasworks opened at Westfield, Fife. It used low quality coal to produce gas at high pressure, enabling it to supply a wide area from Dundee across Fife & central Scotland (exc Edin &Glas where conversion to oil as a feedstock kept industry alive att the end) meaning a large number of small town Gasworks could be closed , keeping the fuel economic by means of the first regional gas distribution network. Low quality coal ment the heating capacity of the gas suffered, but it was boosted back up to the requisite 500btu/cuft by injecting gas from the byproduct of oil refining across the water at Grangemouth.
However, north sea gas had twice the thermal capacity at much lower cost, so conversion to natural gas from 1974 left the Lurgi plant unviable by 1980. Still much on site about 5 yrs ago.
Great video of an industry only recently past.
Cracking show , thanks 👍🏴
Thanks Shane.
It’s sad to see this country’s industry decline until there is nothing left, soon our last oil refinery will go the same way as our pits, iron foundries and gas works etc . I remember when I was young we were all encouraged to buy British whether it was our cloths or appliances. The amount of things this country discovered and invented all adopted by other countries and now selling back to us . Great video Ed 👏👏👏
Many thanks Brian.
There's still enough coal under Scotland to sustain about 100 years of gas production
Exactly. Clearly we have to transition in some way to save the planet. But we have enough coal here in Scotland and in the rest of the UK to cope with that transition. Why are we importing coal?
A great and interesting subject Ed. Your video was well produced, edited and narrated.
I well remember the Gasworks in Callander in the 50's/60's. I think the coal was shipped from Fife on the railway.
I remember the gasometers and the big blazing furnaces with two men shovelling coal into them.
The heat and the smell were unique. 😉
And even the railways have gone.
@@EdExploresScotland Yes, I know. 1964. I was a great Callander & Oban Railway fan. Cheers.
More, more, bravo, bravo. Thanks Eddy (not sure if its Eddy or Eddie)? Love your research, maps, new and old and just your sense of what matters and what should 'get tae'. A true Scotsman who cares. Cheers
Thank you.
MY MOTHER USED TO PULL A ZINC BATH ON A HOMEMADE TROLLEY TO DALMARNOCK GASWORKS TO BUY CHAR = THE COAL AFTER THE GAS HAD BEEN EXTRACTED .WE BURNED IT IN THE KITCHEN FIRE .
I lived in Kelvindale as a child and I have seen those gasometers near Anniesland. Great stuff Ed. Thank you very much.
Thanks John.
In Forfar the burgh gas works was situated in Market Mews with its office on North Street. That building still stands as do a few stone walls at the rear. Everything else has been demolished. Likewise, the railway which once brought in the coal is long gone.
Had no idea domestic gas supplies began in early nineteenth century. Once again thanks for all the research you put into your kids.
Wow this was a real eye opener for me, thanks for taking the time and making such a huge effort to make such great videos.
Cheers guys.
Hello Ed! Thank you for another interesting and informative video!
I’m writing from California - and I’ve always wondered about those exact monstrosities every time I’m home visiting my Mum in Kelvindale!
Somebody running riot with a Meccano set!
@@EdExploresScotland PS- I want to go on one of your walks with you next time I’m there! Haha! But for real!
Excellent conclusion statement!
Thank you.
Very thoughtful and well presented video. Thank you Ian w in Sheffield
Thanks Ian.
Another fyne insight, Eddie. I have a pleasing view of the Gas tanks at Provan. Stories abounded that they were to be dismantled, to make way for the new barlinnie prison. Originally there was 3, 2 remain. Apparently they have a 'listed' status that British gas (or their chinese owners) were trying to over rule... I think Dublin (?) has turned one of theirs into a play park. Other supporters to preserve the structures have claimed apartment style living could be built within them. If anything; these structures should be preserved as a testament to when britain was great. Interestingly, my uncle was a leerie back in the early 70's. I recall him lighting tenement close heid lamps that were fuelled by gas, but don't recall him lighting street lights.
Never knew about the Townhead gas works ahent provands lordship. Everyday's a school day Eddie!
Cheers.
Harri
We never stop learning. Cheers Harry.
Yes , Scotland did have many thriving industries ! Going to be political here , INDEPENDENCE . Enjoyed the film . toni
Cheers Toni.
I’m positive the gas world in provanmill were still inflating in my childhood in the 90s
Aye they were part of the natural gas distribution network until fairly recently
There is a gas works museum in Biggar. A house that was built in the 80s on our old gas works land had to be pulled down after 10 years due to poisons accumulating from the contaminated ground. You are correct privatising nation critical Monopolies was foolish even worse creating false markets that lined the fanciers pockets .
Awesome presentation! Thank you.
Many thanks.
Thanks!
Thank you.
Thank you for all the work you put into this, Ed🌟. In the early 80's my Gran lived in the "big flats" in Anniesland by the library and we could see the gas works from the window. Quite emotional thinking about it.
Excellent video well produced i seem to mind we had big gas tanks at the shore road in my town of perth
Cheers Brian.
Got some stunning sunrise pics from the top of one of the gasometers at Anniesland a few years ago 🤪
There's something strangely beautiful about these structures.
very interesting ed....another great video thanks!
Thank you for this!
Nice wee surprise to watch after work cheers Ed very interesting always wondered what the 2 big structures were every time I drive into Glasgow
I was brought up in cambuslang, at the end of my street there were 2 gas towers , 1 massive one was green & the other was a bit smaller & blue. Next to it used to be a gas works (was shut down & demolished before I was born 64). You could smell the gas leak out of the towers. You could tell how much gas was in each tank by how high or low the rank was.
Brilliant video Ed,
I agree with you Ed. It was the same in the Southeast US. Living 80 years, you see many change’s, some good and some not so good. They call it progress, and then looking back it’s hard to understand why we’re all in a confounding mess. Progress backwards to the future, with no regard for the actual needs of the people. I enjoyed your video.
Take care. Lynn in Naples FL 😎💫
Thanks Lynn. It's going to be an interesting year.
I climbed that rusty one about a month ago
Dalkeith had a gas works and nearby an electricity generating plant powered by a town gas engine.
Another great video and Bo'ness being mentioned in consecutive weeks.
I can see the 2 Annisland towers from my window, walked past them a few times on my walks along the canal to Bowling, they are very high.
great scot. thank you.
I remember going to see my Father's sister in windygates in Fife. Their house was still lit by gas, that would be sixty odd years ago.
Yes, I remember gas lighting in a close in Alloa, probably late 60s.
Great Video and Narration as Always A follower from Auld Reekie 👍🏼
Thank you.
Large storage facilities for LPG were closed at ports as a cost cutting measure by the privatised utilities.
Remember the Clarkston gas explosion in 1971? There were 22 deaths at the shops there.
I remember the switchover to North sea gas and the bold statement that it would last well into the 2020's and I remember my dads comment, "aye very good, and then what do we do after that?" We are getting our answer now, depend on other countries for gas. Not that we could reinstate town gas as we have no coal mines left and I cant imagine the Green lobby ever tolerating the reopening of coal mining.
There’s still an old gas holder in Dundee, Ed. It might be getting transformed into an Eden Project!
Oh the future!
The gas works didn't burn much coal. In fact, touring a gas works in my childhood, I remember the guide saying that the most wasteful thing to do with coal was to burn it, which seemed a very strange thing to say. Coal was distilled in retorts. The coke and chemical bi-products were all collected and sold to manufacturing industry. The gas works produced little or no smoke, but I do remember the foul smell these works produced, almost enough to make a young child sick, and responsible for the low prices and rents of the houses in the immediate vicinity. Even humour at the time would use street names like 'Gas Works Lane' to indicate and undesirable place to live.
You ask what went wrong? The simple answer is Thatcher. In her fury with the National Union of Mineworkers, she dismantled the domestic coal industry and destroyed our energy independence, leaving us vulnerable to threats from foreign powers. We even had to import coal.
There was also natural gas from the North Sea, none of which remained in public ownership and, although a limited resource, needed to be sold to enrich her backers. The coal gas industry foundered with the lack of domestic coal.
I am still making gas in Scotland in2025
The gas meter used to be a penny
Its still being made daily in Holyrood.
All you can find about this subject in UK is how bad hydrocarbons are to the environment.
all the major cities ,had their own coking plants, making gas, most major cities were self sufficient, water gas electric, run by the corporations, till alas privatisation,,
Conversation to Natural Gas was carried out in the early 70’s. Just when I started my apprenticeship as a Plumber/Heating Engineer. I can still recall the Gas Fitters converting Gas Fires, Cookers, Boilers, Water Geezers etc etc etc.
Most Cities, Towns & villages that had a Gas Works & a Coal Gas Network, would’ve been wholly inadequate for the burgeoning Central Heating Industry. So not only the prospect of cheaper Gas, but antiquated infrastructures - all past their sell-by date. As is the case in most Nationalised industries, loss making & outdated.
Maggie Thatcher had the right idea, there’s only one way to kill off powerful the Unions in any industry, close it down & shut the doors. It killed communism dead!!
Great video, until you started on the Leftie politics Eddie.
Thanks Eddie, Industry of all types gone by the greed of the grasping.
Maggie's view enrich the rich and inspire the poor, result enrich the rich and damn the poor, sell off the family silver and keep the wolf from the door, privatise knowing full well that only the rich can invest and prosper but the rich are not in the majority and the needy grow faster so she wins the battle and loses the war, same as today. Britain is poorer because we are no longer an independent UK, a powerhouse, a producing and self sustaining country. we need to start to develop and create again and no more reliance on other markets, bring the needs of the people of the UK back under the control of the people of the UK.
OK rant over, we want to be green and environmentally friendly but can we afford to? America/Russia/China/India, they do not care! And they prosper.
Thanks for a good video🤠
Cheers Edward.
Gas holders were still in use in Scotland right into the 2000's, i know, i worked on them. Horrible, smelly, dirty, works, yet cleaverly designed to store gas gas when it wasn't needed, say 9.30 - till peak periods 4-7 p.m when the domestic load kicked in. Eyesores when they were built, yet a public outcry, including aviation bodies when they were getting pulled down.
Until Mrs Thatcher sold down the river
Should be when Scotland made everything for itself and half the world.
The Utilities land on prime location that was once owned by us was sold off as a Brucey Bonus to Maggies chums something that is forgotten. Look at the ROF at Bishopton. That sold to British Aerospace who promptly moved propellant production to south Africa. It is now sold on as a vast housing estate more cash for Maggie's chums.
I think we'll live to see the mines reopened.
Were I grew up there were two huge gas tanks in the late 50's into the 60's when they were torn down. Railcars of coal were still plentiful and many homes were still heating with coal fired furnaces. The disappearance of these resources coincided with the collapse of the Shoe/Textile/Tannery Industry In New England. There were some tough times.
Great video Ed. Thanks.
Many thanks. Perhaps we could still make our own gas, and other things.
There was still signs of the gas lights into the seventies in Inverness. My Grandad was in the team.