Victorian Towers ....

.... Holding Gas.
These 2 towers have now become a landmark and advertisement for IKEA . They have gone through a period of our comparatively modern industrial heritage and with the advance of technology they became gas - fired instead of coal - fired. Things have to progress but it really gave a fascinated history.
1790 a William Murdoch invented Gas Lighting and also coined the name Gasometer .
1824 the Telescopic holder was invented( the 1st one being built in Leeds) this increased the storage of gas and just about every town had one. Holding up to 2 million cubic feet of gas , enough to supply 2500 houses for a day.
1846 Croydon Commercial Gas & Coke Company was formed by December of that year the rival company ( Croydon Gas & Coke Company) but agreed to dispose of their rights if they could keep the land already purchased to build a Gas Works.
1847 Mr Patton was appointed the 1st manager .
1866 further land was acquired at Waddon, the new works completed in 1867.
By 1906 the works occupied 31 acres of land. Eventually covering an area of 73 square feet
1949 - Nationalisation saw the works being part of the East Surrey Division of SEGB
2005 Coal fired became Gas fired station.
In August 2018 pressure was put on the government to demolish these 2 towers 300 feet high, as the area was being regenerated into a Retail and Leisure Park . Local Protests saved them and now they are the Land Mark soaring into the sky.
Hope you've all had a good day.

Grateful ..... for the warm sunshine

P.S. The area is known as Valley Park and has the 1st IKEA store in the UK.

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