The History of a Manchester Gasworks
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- In this video we look at the history of a Manchester Gasworks. The Gasworks is the Rochdale Road/Gould Street Gasworks. Situated near Angel Meadow the Gasworks was opened in 1824. As the Industrial revolution was happening. We look at archive old photographs around the Manchester Angel Meadow area and look at the industrial history of Manchester. We also urban explore Urbex what is remaining of the old Gasworks. It was the Scottish Inventor William Murdoch that first lit his house by Gaslight. This video examines his legacy.
PO BOX 265, Manchester M24 0BX #manchester #industrialhistory #angelmeadow
You need a TV program about the History of Manchester.
@Lassi Kinnunen Agreed to both comments. Martin is amazing such a natural.
Thank you, RUclips is best because I can do my own thing
@Lassi Kinnunen I think you are correct
@@alexbright7735 Thank you
@@MartinZero very true, love the style of each episode. Since discovering your channel I have binged my way through. I used to live in Chorlton before the internet and never knew everything you have taught me.
Im Australian... I reckon i know more about Manchester now than my own country.
Hello thank you, thats great 😃
NSW here hello
You and me both... these are brilliant videos
My favourite RUclips channel by far. Another brilliant vid 👍
Thanks very much
Another interesting Historical video Mr Martin !The 'Deep-Water' sign could have warned of the water filled pit on which the gasometers once 'floated ' ! As a boy 50-60s ,we lived on a hill in London from which we could see Greenwich Gasworks ! On Sundays the two massive gasometers went very low as everyone cooked Sunday dinner !
Ahh yes I never thought of that, quite possible
Almost certainly related to the gasometer.
One other possibility for the 'deep water' is a tar and liquor tank. This is where tar and ammoniacal liquor that condensed out of the gas was drained to before being pumped out for processing into a variety of by-products.
I met my love
By the gasworks wall
Dreamed a dream
By the old canal
Dirty old town
Dirty old town
Heard a siren from the docks
Saw a train set the night on fire
this has been running through my mind for about six videos so far today...
That coat of arms is pure magic... how it can be allowed to crumble away is beyond me!
Yes I agree Adam
Perfect.Great vid. Maps. Photos. Music.Research.
Thank you Neil
Brilliant video, I really enjoyed this one. My Uncle John served his apprenticeship at the Etruria Gas Works in Stoke on Trent. I remember as a kid we got into the, by then, closed down gas works. There were three very deep water filled shafts which might explain the deep water sign.
I can vaguely remember the men coming around to convert my Nan's cooker to natural gas in perhaps the early 70's. Town has stunk and was very toxic, hence the head in the oven stories about people killing themselves. My chemistry teacher, Jack Winray, told us how he was involved in putting the smell into natural gas. Apparently, natural gas doesn't smell like town has did. The gas companies worried that people wouldn't be able to smell gas leaks when they switched over. Jack worked as part of the team of chemists who developed the artificial smell put into natural gas. He told us that his mates and him used to be refused by the bus drivers after work because they smelled so bad.
I remember it being said they had to put a smell into North Sea gas.
I worked in a gas work plant in the US back in 1981-85 when it was closed down. You're correct about adding a scent agent because natural gas is odorless. The agent (at least at the time here in the states) was called methyl mercaptan. 😊
My addiction to your videos continues. Thanks for posting/exploring/educating/showing us.
Thank you Paul much appreciated
Top video once again Martin, very informative and well presented. My wife will want to watch this later, who needs the tv with videos like this being made👍
Wasdale Man V Walking Camping and Exploring Channel I’ve never even been to Manchester but I find these videos absolutely fascinating! The guy (Martin) is a legend!
Sean Buttimer I think the appeal is that you can tell he really enjoys what he’s doing.
Thank you and regards to your wife 👍🏼
@@Oscartherescuedog Thank you Sean
I have said it before and I will say it again, the mix of old maps, old photos and pointing out the locations for a video is second
to non..
Completely agree. 👍
T2M Well stop watching and don’t say it for a third time.
Totally agree. 👍
Thank you very much
Yep
My Great Granddad worked here in the early 1900. Your video has helped paint a clearer picture of the gasworks and his work. Thank you
Steve Binks
Found this channel by accident and I have to say, am now addicted. I'm not a Manc but from over the hill in Rotherham/Sheffield but love industrial history etc. Martin, you do a great job in presenting some fascinating material, the videos are very watchable and informative. We'll done and keep 'em coming.
Thanks Keith very much. I bet there is loads of stuff in Sheffield
Would love you to venture east, but I lived and know the Holmfirth/Saddleworth area, so you do come close. Once again, many thanks for your enthusiasm and quality videos.
Deep water sign, possibly the base of the gasometer storage tanks, maybe? I believe the tanks floated on water for a good seal.
Yes your right Andrew and thanks
@@MartinZero Base? You mean you are standing above the tanks? Are those tanks still in use. Awesome content
@@AndrewFree The office building that stood on the site was demolished two or three years ago. I worked for British Gas on the Gould Street site and anything that was dangerous the staff wouldn't have had access too. The tanks were long gone when I started working on the site 20 years ago
You are no 'zero', you are an absolute historian 'hero'. If my history teacher at school had been anything like you, i would have definitely taken more notice of what he said. Thanks for the enthusiasm, you could make anything interesting.
Excellent explore Martin. My heart weeps for all those workers in the past. What an interesting video. So informative. Quite moving. Thank you for the link to this.
brilliant, the use of old maps to show us what was there before is an inspiration and well put together amazing what you see when you actually look at what around you. Good stuff once again martin!
Thank you very much
This was terrific Martin . I particularly liked the old photos that help in understanding what we're looking at. Keep up the great work!
I came to your channel from the canal trapdoor and I have binge watched a ton of your stuff and eagerly await any new content that you make. Also, do you move the Dalek around or do you just have a heap around your house? Either way, it's very cool (and I don't even watch Doctor Who) Anyway Keep up the good work and hello from Logan City, QLD, Australia.
Hello, 😃That Dalek moves around and hello to Australia
My stumbling was on the same said video and watched many since. Rarely comment on vids but Martin's are close to my heart. Would love a guided tour
I’ve just done the exact same thing...
Ha...... I got hooked from the canal draining vid too !! 😂
Used to work as a mechanic for the North West Gas Board on Liverpool St in the early 70s.
Brilliant video, crossed a lot of Ts and dotted so many Is Well done buddy 👏👏
Noel Lee
You are simply absolutely amazing! Your filmmaking skills and research skills are second to none.fascinating, intriguing and wonderful. Thanks Martin, and to Conner too!
Thank you David. You are very kind 👍🏼
I found this video particularly interesting as I used to work for North West Gas in Bootle. Gould Street is a very familiar name to me because I think they had offices there until privatisation changed the face of gas distribution. The site I worked at was in LItherland Road Bootle - and it was an Operational Control Centre with offices, engineers and distribution teams who would go out in the district to repair leaks and lay new mains. When it became clear, in the mid 90s, that the site was going to be vacated by British Gas a huge operation was undertaken in the car park at the back of the site. Massive excavation took place so they could remove the gas ovens which had been used as you describe in this video and were highly toxic. A huge thick blue plastic barrier surrounded the area to keep the curious at bay. The work went on for weeks and the smell was terrible, so much so that the contractors placed scented atomisers along the tops of the high barriers to try and keep the smell under control. I don't know what happened at Gould Street or if their coke ovens were still there but at Bootle they had just laid a carpark over the top. The site was next to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and our fire evacuation area was inside some huge arches with a walkway over running water. The map I was looking at was from 1906 - the link is here in case you want to find out more and thank you for the memory tonyrobertson.mycouncillor.org.uk/2015/02/03/bootle-gas-works-and-surrounding-area/
I love the way you tell the story and history, its like ive lived there myself. Another excellent video mate. 👏👏👏👏👏
Yet another fascinating story of Manchester’s Industrial heritage rotting away. It’d be great to see a video of the trams and where they run on old lines, repurposed streets and bridges? When I visited a couple of years ago I was smitten by the roads around my hotel leading to the Northern Quarter where tarmac had crumbled to reveal beautiful cobbles literally the past showing. Thanks for your continued enthusiastic work!
The best history teller of Manchester the zero great video Martin enjoyed 👌
Thank you Brian much appreciated
Cracking video, the corrugated stuff on the ground @ 17:40 looks a bit asbestossy to me. Take care man.
Yes Mark I think it was and thanks
Just thinking the same myself. You need to report it to the council asap...they'll arrange to bagging, collection and disposal.
Those sheets are generally ok unless you start smashing it up and breathing it in. You worry that if you report it they'll tear the whole lot down, that'd be a shame :(
I agree with Alex Jewell & pmailkeey. However, if you spend a lot of time wandering around in damp underground spaces, you might want to check out disposable N95 respirators: www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/GeneralHospitalDevicesandSupplies/PersonalProtectiveEquipment/ucm055977.htm They're not quite as effective as a big bulky HEPA filter, but are a lot more practical for wandering around in tight spaces, and don't muffle your voice. We use them in hospitals & medical labs, so they should protect you from any spores, bacteria & particulates you encounter. You can get a professional fitting at any construction safety company for fairly cheap. (At least here in Canada.)
Greetings from France :)
I have to say it, you're really good at what you do Martin.
I've discovered your channel like 1 month ago, and every video you've uploaded since are just awesome.
I've discovered many things thanks to you, especially the Tib river and the trap door !
You definitivly need more subs, and will get them ;)
Hello thank you so much for your kind comment. I appreciate it and best regards to France 👌
My grandad worked at the Gaythorn Gas Works and I remember going to pick him up from work with my dad a few times. I used to play with the button that operated the barrier at the entrance.
My dad, at the end of the 50s and 60s, worked for the gas board and was doing the conversions from town gas to natural gas.
I’d nearly forgotten about this so thanks for this video.
Thanks Gaz. Gaythorn !! wow wish I had seen that
Great video. The process of making coal gas was a bit more involved than just heating the coal and collecting what came off it. The gases were scrubbed with water which took out a lot of the by products such as ammonia, phenol and the tars. These byproducts became the materials for the chemical industry. The red-hot coke was doused with water which gave off what they called water gas, a hydrogen and carbon monoxide mix, which augmented the gases from the retorts. Its that stuff you're seeing in the old WW2 era pictures of cars with gas storage on top. (Not such a weird idea -- a lot of buses are run from cylinders of compressed natural gas, they're often on the roof of the bus.)
Coal gas (I've only heard the term 'town gas' in the US) is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen with maybe a little nitrogen in it. It did vary in quality which is why it was sold by the therm (how much heat you got from it) rather than by volume. When they switched over to natural gas in the early 70s you had to have your appliances converted by changing the mixing jets to ones with a much smaller size -- if you lit an unconverted gas ring with natural gas you'd end up with a flame about two feet high (fun, but not much good for boiling a kettle). The gas supply was also higher pressure so individual pressure reducers were fitted by gas meters rather than pressure regulators for a district.
I'd be wary of poking around inside those arches because of dangerous debris. Quite apart from gas works sites being heavily polluted there's signs of the indoor areas being somewhat inhabited at one time or another (half burnt pallets)(needles) and there may be left over materials like asbestos cladding that could be dangerous. (Asbestos wasn't always regarded as dangerous so it got used all over the place as insulation. Now we know its a real problem to remove its often left in place if there's no particular reason to move it.)(Check out the story of Acre Mill at Hebden Bridge as a cautionary tale. That place was left for years after it closed because nobody could figure out how to demolish it safely.)
Wright's Coal Tar Soap is a well known brand that used to be made from one of the byproducts.
Thanks for the info Martin. I do enjoy a good poke around
Amazing! I've been to The Marble Arch pub/brewery you showed many times and never realised all thus was practically next door...😯
Another brilliant video Martin very interesting, have been waiting for the next one
Thanks Adrian
Too good for commercial TV. Well edited, researched, and full of valuable history. Thank you for posting.
Thank you William much appreciated
Martin Zero you are very welcome from Carrollton, Georgia. I’ve never considered Manchester as a vacation spot. But with your videos, I hope I get to walk around there some. Again, Thank you.
@@P61guy61 Come when the weather is nice 😁
Martin Zero, Maybe he experience will be more realistic if it is cold and rainy! Cheers.
The bricks you see under the arches are Fire Bricks I've been in there when I worked for British Gas on the site. The plaque for the coat of arms that described where the triangular piece had come from has gone missing it came off the original Gas Works building. Also you missed the railway track that still exists above those arches in the car park that you looked in.
Thanks Martin A Absolutely Fantastic Video From Blue
Hi,Im from Canada,..And find your videos very Interesting!!! Thank-you!
Hello Robert thank you very much, best regards to Canada 👍🏼
The wall was shocked to see Martin @ 28:03
I've just discovered these videos. Fantastic!
wow i use to look after the grounds maintenance here inthe 80s and 90s for a landscape company. that coat of arms was right outside the main office entrance.
Hi John yeah it features in one of the pictures at 12 mins
Amazing arches and brick work indeed thanks for the tour hello from Australia
Love the videos very informative, and love to see the mudflood buildings.
tell you wot pal without people like you many of us wouldn't know wot our past was actually like,you show some great footage of then & now with pictures of how it was,your time dedication and lots of hard work deserves 10/10 love you videos many thanx pal.
Thanks for another great vid. Cheers from Germany.👍👏
Thank you Mathias and regards to Germany
Absolutely a phenomenal piece of historical work, well done mate and keep them coming. You deserve your own Tv program.
Thank you very much
Very amazing video well done mate keep up the great work
Hi mate thanks very much
@@MartinZero you are most welcome and I will be UPLOADING 2 videos tomorrow and one of them as a crazy stunt in it
I have not finished watching the vid yet but I've got to put this down . you sir are a absolute geniuses when it comes to bringing history alive more of this thankyou
Paul thanks thats very kind of you to say 👍🏼
I'll be watching after my tea (dinner for our southern compadres)
Ha Brilliant and thanks
Yes, Martin the quality of entertainment is surpassed the many documentary historical programs like PBS, NOWA, National Geographic and others. Thanks Martin, always worth a watch.
It says deep water because it is probably the base of a water sealed gas holder or a chamber for a water gas cleaner.
Yep thanks Phil
The pale yellow "bricks" are the "refractory" ones used for the lining of the coking ovens. In the tunnel at 20mins are the curved ones for the arched roof lining in the ovens. The gasometer (just a big gas tank)used to sit in a trough of water which forms the gas seal around the base.
"Jemmy the crawler" is something for people think about, when they think their modern, easy, wrapped in cotton wool lives are crap.
I just come across this channel and I found it very entertaining. ..Thank you pal!😳😀😀
Love your videos! Thanks for sharing. Google "mud flood"
Thank you very much
@@MartinZero I wouldn't - unless your into conspiracy theories. Some of their stuff is pretty crazy.
Absolutely riveting Martin....
Thank you Anne 👍
Hi Martin, I can see murdoch's House from my front room. I'm laid out with a bug and checking out vids I've not seen. Thanks for helping to keep my spirits up. God bless
So enthusiastic and informative about your subject matter, the videos you produce on Manchester's history are simply the best, keep them coming and thank you Martin.
Thanks very much Richard
As always, superb stuff Martin. Fascinating seeing the comparison of maps and old photos compared with modern day. I’m always thinking of the workers that did that superb bricklaying on those arches and structures all those years ago and the fact it has survived. Keep up the great work.
Fantastic video and production. I am really enjoying your videos.
Well, this is about the 20th or so video of yours I've watched over the last two days - and I never tire of it. Fact is, I'm not from Manchester or even the UK - I live in America - but history has always fascinated me. However, trouble with history is that you usually only get to learn about the Big things. Hearing about one village, one neighborhood, one building, one disused railway station or tunnel, well, honestly, that's what history is really all about. These videos would have inspired me to do a similar series in my own hometown if it weren't for the fact that my area is far too rural and my mobility is about gone. But I can watch yours and I hope to see a lot more.
It's a real pleasure to come across your videos; I've subscribed now and so won't miss future ones. Now to watch all your previous stuff - so interesting.
Thank you very much
Fascinating structures, always love the old photos, especially enjoyed the mention of your mom and grandmother's conversation about which gas service they had.
Brings back memories this. I had my interview at Gould st when it was open and I’m still at the gas now. Nearly 30 years later and I’m still working on the mains on dantzic st area that are nearly 150 years old. A lot of history in this area. Thanks for great vid, keep up the good work
Thank you. I would have had many questions to ask you
When did they close the site and why? It didn't seem old enough to be demolished. What happened to the workers, did they build a new site somewhere else?
I worked at Bradford Rd in the early 80s before it was demolished.
@@saltshakerannie if you still live local you’ll know it’s a far cry from what it once was. The only thing left is the huge gas holder but I’m hearing that plans are in place to turn it into a hotel with the structure still in place! I bet that will look interesting if goes ahead
@@MartinZero your welcome Martin. If you want any more info regarding gas works message me or the area in general my dad grew up there from the 40’s and tells me often about the history, he grew up on clarion st
This one was a cracking video, Martin. I always take a shine to your vids that cover the Angel Meadow / Collyhurst area.
Hello thanks, yeah am a bit attached to that area myself 😃
@@MartinZero My late mum grew up in the Collyhurst/ Miles Platting area. She said it was a very happy, close knit community . I loved listening to my parents talking about the Manchester they knew. Wonderful history, wonderful people. That's why I enjoy your videos so much.
Hi Martin,
I've just discovered your channel and I am really loving your videos. VERY interesting; keep them coming. Thanks
Lyndsey
Thank you Lyndsey. Hope you enjoy the rest of the videos 👍
I grew up in ancoats ..played all around these areas and derelict old mills angel meadow old tennerments loved it so much i worked on the canals most my life man and boy ...could tell you some tales buddy ...Great coverage of shooters brook wow
Martin.... you've done it again,.... another fascinating video !! 😀. So very interesting and I enjoy looking at all the old photos and maps. I just remember that rail truck that went across Rochdale Road...when we were going along there on the bus ,it used to stop to let the rail truck go across. That was so many many years ago !!! How times change ...but I still have the memories. !
Hi Suzy, wow you remember the truck going over Rochdale road , thats brilliant 👌
i remember in the 70's going to my grandads seeing the railway lines going across rochdale road and wondering why they were there! great video martin ....just bought a book on angel meadow which i will be reading shortly
Great, enjoy the book, I think I know the one and its great
There was an old gasworks near where I was born in Richmond Indiana, USA. It was built in 1855, but because of it being abandoned for a long period of time and a curious teen falling through the roof, the city demolished it around 2007. There are still a series of concrete arched supports for an elevated railway, but that is the only thing left. The boy who fell through was injured, but he survived.
thanks Martin, catching up on some of your older video's - brilliant 👍😃
hi Martin
I found you channel about 3 weeks ago whilst i was looking for something else,
it was the trip door of the tib and I'm getting through them and I'm loving them all well-done
I see you struggle with working out the Difference between Stalagmites and stalactite's I was taught this saying to help me remember ( as the Nights go up the tights come down)
Thanks Paul
Well once again very interesting Martin love the before and after pictures well done
Wonderful video....found it riveting to watch......thank you Martin...👍
Thank you very much
Fantastic, finally found someone who is as interested in Victorian architecture and industrial landscapes as I am! Great video
Thanks very much
Excellent post Thank you very much
Wot no Tea! I,m only here for the Tea! Nice Video Martin, and Hi from Germany
Another great video Martin . You are good at finding the things nobody notices but walk past every day .
Keep them coming I need my weekly fix
Facinating stuff Martin . I visited the Museum of gas and local history at Fakenham in Norfolk, it's tthe only surviving town gasworks in england & wales, really interesting .
Lovely video Martin. Well presented. Very well researched and thoroughly enjoyable.
Thanks Agent Bertram
Thanks for all your time and research into making this video. Fascinating.
Thanks for watching Gordon
Martin & Crew...thanks for all the videos & maps. Reminds me of my home town. Anyway...your stuff is awesome...and the music reminds me of Eno & Bill Nelson. Great Stuff...looking forward to More :)
What a cracking video Martin , really interesting , especially being a bricky seeing all the old brickwork and arches was great . Some top craftsmanship there 👌🏼. What a shame they demolished such a beautiful building! Inside the big arch you need to take extra care pal as it looked like somebody had been fly tipping asbestos 😷. Thoroughly enjoyed this one thanks 🧱👍🏼.
Make sure you get to Liverpool soon to do the tunnel tour , it’s right up your ally 👌🏼
Hello thanks very much. yeah saw the Asbestos. I am going to Liverpool later this month to film 👍🏼
You really bring the history behind familiar Manchester sights to life. Thank you
Thank you very much
great stuff, nowt like a sniff around old places
Truly interesting and fantastic video yet again. I was born in Manchester and lived in Marple, Stockport and Hyde, so I am familiar with many of the areas you explore, but your content and delivery is so unique that its all new and so interesting. Thanks again.
Greetings from Manchester, New Hampshire, USA! Lots of 1870's industrial history here as well.
Hello great stuff. Ive always wanted to visit the other Manchester. Be good to see your history 👌👍
Wow! I worked at Gould St during the 80's.....I remember watching in sheer amazement as the 40 foot lorries would reverse into the Tobacco factory......there were lots of 'scars' left by less experienced or unlucky drivers too.....Absolutely love your work, you should have your own TV show on Granada
Thanks Chris I should go back and look where the trucks hit the wall 😃
Very interesting & well done! Really impressed with your research! Music is always great and well chosen. Enjoyed watching...thank you!
Thanks very much
Good to come back to this after four years!
What a fantastic work of history you put together here..
Thanks Mark
Your down to earth approach to history is very refreshing and captivating. Thumbs up 👍
Thanks Andy much appreciated
I absolutely love your style man, You do an excellent job describing the history of your local area every big city needs a person like you
Thanks very much Kory
Brill...... as usual. It's been said so many times but your work will live on, long after us lot, and so it should, even the comments made today will seem, strange, even poetic perhaps in the future? For me, I'm glad I've lived through what must some of the most interesting times in our history. I was born in 1950 early enough to hear the stories of people who lived through the wars and industrial past. My upbringing wasn't too bad fortunately, but sadly kids of today have no idea just how fortunate they truly are.
Thanks again for capturing everything you do.
Roj
Absolutely stunning, mesmerized all the way through. Top work!
Thank you very much
Excellent as always such interest in and around town which we take for granted thanks for giving us all a small insight into our great city and keep em coming I can't get enough of them might even start retracing some of your routes to see for myself love the way you put these together very talented man and thanks again
Thank you Paul. Yeah most of the stuff I do is easily findable if you know Manchester
Love all the Victorian brick built stuff absolutely amazing to see.
I can only echo what others are saying about your channel....Simply the best ....You are doing a lot of graft for our benefit...A big thanks dude.👍💪👏
Thanks very much 👍
Another awesome video you never disappoint you keep all your fans going and there's still a lot of left history left in there where are the cities has buried as keep up the good work my friend I'll keep watching
Thanks Phil much appreciated
Really like the mix of video and old maps/photo's, thanks for another great video !
Thanks Leo, yeah love the old maps
Martin, your videos are superb. Since finding your channel through the canal trap door story I've been binge watching. Fascinating and engaging watching! I've learnt so much about a city I have travelled through all my life.
Thank you, really appreciate it
Another great video!
I'm a proud Yorkshireman that travels to Manchester to do cameras on Corrie every day. I just bloody love watching your videos and learning about Manchesters history! I think I know more now about Manchester than I do at home (my rose is still white though), keep up the good work!
Thanks very much Andrew. Can you lend me a camera 😉
Hi, Great video. I worked out of Gould Street Gas works in the 1980's when it belonged to North West Gas. Great memories.
Great stuff Mark. Wish I had seen what you have
Thank you, Martin, for another Great Video! Your use of old maps in conjunction with modern ones is very well managed and extremely informative. You mention the Town Gas / Natural Gas conversion. Yes - I went through that phase. The conversion was free and the Gas Board had a list of all your Gas appliances so that when the conversion took place there were no hiccups! I believe that Town Gas had a different Thermal Rating from Natural Gas. During the last War I used to see many cars converted to run on Gas instead of Petrol. They had a huge bag on top - that must have been a bit dodgy refilling them! Coke was a very useful heating fuel - our Kitchen Boiler used Coke - as did the large space-heater units in Peterborough Cathedral - along the North and South Transepts. (I was a Chorister there in the 40's.) It's amazing how much the North Sea Gas has radically changed the landscape - no more filled Gasometers - just the surrounding steel frames. Back to the Old Maps you used - I noted the use of 'f' instead of 's' in some of the road spellings - they must be very old! Your camera doesn't dwell on the ceiling areas much - when you were videoing the archway where the ground was all cluttered with bricks etc. I was itching for you to pan up that 'ladder'? 21:04 so I could see what was at the top. Did you investigate (if it was possible) what these places were like on the top, from outside? Wonderful! You have evoked much interest in your followers asking many questions! Glad I'm not alone in this! Looking forward to the next one!
Yes the thermal rating of natural gas was different. The conversation involved changing the gas jets to smaller ones because the pressure in the mains was higher to deliver similar heating effect.. While it was a massive project, which went relatively well, there were a few issues with leaks in street mains and inevitable fires. One reason for leaks was that Towns (or coal) Gas was 'wet' i.e. it carried coal tar and moisture along the pipes and this kept the old hemp and tar joints intact. Natural gas was 'dry' and it's passage through the pipes dried the joints out meaning they became suspectable to ground movement causing fractures and leaks. Towns Gas was over 50% hydrogen which meant you could fill balloons with it and they would float across a room and explode as it reached the fire (joking) ! (My father was one of the works engineers at Radcliffe Gas Works from around 1950-1956, I remember going there with him one day and the stink around the site still lingers in my memory.).