The gasworks at Beckton in the borough of Newham played a significant role in the East End industry for over 100 years. Its story also illustrates how this once thriving industrial area has declined and changed its focus. Formerly the largest gasworks in Europe, Beckton Gasworks was in use from 1870 to 1969, when it closed down.
Beckton Gas Works Legacy
The site buildings and structure no longer exist, but the gasworks has left some legacy in the area in the form of the Beckton Alps.
The History of London’s Famous Gas Works
The East End was a hive of industry in the late 1800s. Its proximity to the Thames’s docklands and its position outside central London made this an ideal location for various dangerous manufacturing and production industries.
In 1870, the Gas Light and Coke Company, under the leadership of Simon Adams Beck, decided to open a gasworks in the area. The site and the surrounding area got the Beckton name from Simon Adams Beck. Although there was plenty of competition in the area, the Beckton Gas Works eventually became the foremost manufacturer of gas for London, at least north of the Thames.
The Victorians had discovered a way to produce gas from coal, which was Beckton’s main activity. Many industries also use this process’s by-products to manufacture other products such as coal tar, dyes, disinfectants, ammonia and sulphuric acid.
However, the Gas Light and Coke Company decided pretty early on that it would be more profitable to use their by-products rather than sell them to other manufacturers. In 1879, the company set up the Beckton Products Works, becoming the UK’s largest manufacturer of tar and ammonia by-products.
The site of the gasworks was huge, covering over 500 acres. It had its own piers on the Thames and could simultaneously store a quarter of a million tons of coal. The company brought coal into the plant for manufacture and had a thriving business selling the by-products of gas production that it did not use. At one point, the gasworks ran 17 collier ships and an extensive internal railway on site. At its peak, the gasworks is thought to have employed 10,000 men.
Ben Brooksbank, CC BY-SA 2.0
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In the late 1940s, nationalisation saw the gasworks pass into the hands of the North Thames Gas Board. Over time, natural gas reserves in the North Sea made many gasworks like Beckton relatively redundant, and the plant was closed down in 1969, as it could not compete with natural gas prices. British Gas and Transco ultimately managed the site after it had closed down and was left in a derelict state for many years.
The Beckton Alps
Producing gas from coal left the company with large amounts of toxic waste, which could not be used for any other purpose, and it all ended up being piled up on the site, creating an artificial range of hills. Locals started to call this the Beckton Alps, and the name stuck.
Although the hill was landscaped and made much smaller, it was still big enough to run as a dry ski slope for a while. This is now the highest point in the area and is designated as a site of importance for nature conservation. It is now the only remaining evidence that the Beckton Gas Works stood on this spot.
The Beckton Gas Works in Films
The derelict state of the site made it an ideal location for filming, and Beckton Gas Works has appeared in a surprising number of Hollywood movies. It is perhaps best known as becoming Vietnam in the Stanley Kubrick film “Full Metal Jacket”. Its derelict state was perfect for a war-ravaged landscape, although it has to be said that Kubrick’s dynamiting of areas within the site left it in a far worst shape than when he started!
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The gasworks also appeared in the opening sequence of the James Bond movie, “For Your Eyes Only”, and was used for London scenes in Nineteen Eighty-Four. Oddly, the location was also used in the John Wayne film, “Brannigan”.
Beckton Gas Works in the present
The buildings of Beckton Gas Works no longer exist. As with many areas of the East End, it took many years to deal with the fall-out as industries moved away from the area and to manage regeneration after the Second World War. Beckton has seen a lot of redevelopment in the last few years as part of the Docklands project, although much of this development in the area is in private housing. The original site is now mainly home to retail and shopping parks.
In Summary
Beckton Gas Works was a primary gas production and storage facility in the East London borough of Newham. The site was established in the 1870s and remained in operation until the 1970s, playing a significant role in the development of the gas industry in the UK.
At its peak, Beckton Gas Works was one of Europe’s most significant gas works, covering an area of over 500 acres and producing around 5 million cubic meters of gas per day. The site was situated on the banks of the River Thames, which provided a convenient source of coal and enabled gas to be transported to other parts of the city by barge.
The gas produced at Beckton was used for various purposes, including street lighting, heating, and cooking. In the early days, gas was produced by heating coal in large ovens called retorts, which had a range of by-products such as Coke, tar, and ammonia. The Coke fueled the retorts, while the tar and ammonia were sold to other industries.
Ordnance Survey Six-Inch England and Wales
1842-1952, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Over time, the gas production process was refined, and more efficient methods were developed. In the 1930s, Beckton became one of the first gas works in the UK to use the water-gas process, which involved passing steam over hot Coke to produce a gas rich in hydrogen. This process was more efficient than the traditional coal-gas process and enabled the production of gas to be increased significantly.
During World War II, Beckton Gas Works supplied gas to London during the blackout. The gas produced at Beckton was used for street lighting and to power vehicles such as buses and taxis. German bombers also targeted the site and attempted to disrupt gas production by damaging the retort houses and gasometers.
After the war, the demand for gas continued to increase, and Beckton underwent a series of modernisation programs to improve efficiency and increase capacity. However, by the 1960s, it was clear that the site was becoming obsolete, and plans were made to close it down.
Gas Works Closure
The closure of Beckton Gas Works was a significant event for the local community, as many people had worked there for generations. However, the closure also marked the beginning of a new era, as the site was redeveloped for new uses such as housing and retail.
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Today, the former site of Beckton Gas Works is known as Beckton District Park, a large public park that covers over 200 acres. The park features a range of facilities, including sports fields, playgrounds, and a nature reserve. The site also contains several historic buildings and structures, including the original gasometers, which have been preserved as a reminder of the site’s industrial heritage.
In conclusion, Beckton Gas Works was a significant part of the gas industry in the UK and played a vital role in supplying gas to London for over a century. Although the site is no longer in operation, its legacy lives on, and the redevelopment of the site has created new opportunities for the local community.
My father was a stoker at the gas works and we lived in one of the company houses , 46 WinsorTerrace until I married in 1957,
My parents both worked in the Products End of Beckton Gas Works after the war. Dad was a boiler makers mate and Mum was a canteen assistant.
They were both active in the unions and I have happy memories of sitting under the table in our living room listening to the discussions about reducing the working hour. Dad worked from 7am till 4pm Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings as a normal week. But often he would do overtime until 7pm and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Has anyone got any photos of Beckton gasworks and the marshes nearby? I would love to see them as I have a fascination with Beckton.
My Grandad William (Bill)
Wall worked at Beckton gas works
My grandad William (Bill)
Wall worked at Beckton gas works
Whilst working for a Wembley haulage firm called Mead Transport between 66/68 I collected a consignment of scrap aluminium from the then defunct Beckton site. The load was then delivered to a company called Allen Aluminium. The scale of Beckton left quite an impression on me. It was vast!
hi my name is brian croew i was an apprentise chemical plumber /lead burner in the beckton product works from 1960 untill 1966 when i was made redundent my work pals where syd pierce forman albert evens charghand jim bartholomew ted milburn len hunt colin wilson and reg tyler plumbers brian freeman colin woodbine george bailey les root and bill chilvers plumbers mates my dad fred crow was a wire rope plicer in the same place
My Grandad was Ivan James Bartholomew!
I worked fo my Father at Beckton gas works pulling No 7 Retort House down
I was only about 16/17 then not shaw I was a Demolition Gas Burner. The conditions we worked in was terrible, 5 of us ended up in hospital with Lead Poisoning, from the lead paint what was on all the steal /Iron they painted over the years. Also all silver money what was in your pocket went black from the oxide we was working in, has in takinging down the big oxide hoppers, .i am now 72 years old and my health has deteriorated from
The work I done in the past, it would not be allowed now.
I WHENT TO EAST HAM TECH 1956/1960 .FIRST TO THE OLD TECH THEN TO THE NEW BUILDING .NEXT TO THE POLICE STATION.NOBBY CLARK WAS ONE OF OUR TEACHERS.I LIVED IN BURGES ROAD EAST HAM
I new a wally CROOKBAIN WHO LIVED IN THE HOUSE NEXT TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE PRODUCTS WORKS IN WINDSOR TERRACE AND HE WAS ALWAYS LATE FOR WORK ALSO A SID GIBBS FORMAN OF THE LOCO WORKS SHED LIVED IN WINDSOR TERRACE IN 1958
You didn’t know the Reece family or the Chase family, did you? The Reeces lived in Windsor Terrace for many many years, number 3 first then number 35 I believe. This family worked for the Beckton Gasworks for nigh on 100 years, from the time it was the Gas Light & Coke Company. They are my family, my great great grandfather, great grandfather, and then my grandad. I think even my dad did a short stint there sometime in the early 60s before it shut down. My great great grandad Tom Reece worked as the locomotive engine driver there for decades but died in 1931. His sons William, Henry, Charles, Arthur and James all definitely worked there too, and likely his oldest son Tom, and youngest sons Alf and Ernie would have as well. My grandad was Hector Chase, son of Tom’s daughter Gladys, and he worked there too, likely straight after WWII and continuously until the family moved in 1959. But he didn’t live in Windsor Tce, he lived in Hornchurch and Romford.
Wally Crookbaine would of been my uncle. My Gran Mary, Granddad Bill and my Dad Billy (Jock) all worked there in the 50s living in Windsor Terrace no 28.
I lived in the prefabs on the left as you went down Winsor Terrace and was friends with an Yvonne Crookbain and I think she had an older brother, I wonder if any relation. Was part of the Gas Works on the left behind the prefabs?
Yvonne Crookbaine is my Aunt. My mum was Sally Crookbaine, Mary and Bill, my nan and grandad. Billy and Walter (Wally) my uncles. They lived at 28 Windsor Terrace. I remember spending many Christmasses there in the 60s.
My father (Bill Wood) worked at Beckton Gas Works as a labourer. He started after he returned from being a Japanese POW after WWII.
He then went to work in the old Products Works, to help with getting kits together for Conversion to North Sea Gas.
He retired in 1987 aged 65, and died in 1998.
My Grandfather (George Williams) , who was a soldier up about 1920, worked at the Becton gasworks as a labourer. I don’t know much more than this unfortunately. He and my grandmother (Florence Beatrice who worked at Keillers Jam factory on Tays Wharf) lived in Exeter Road , Tidal Basin.
If anyone can give me any more information on the the area at that time I’d be grateful. I don’t think Exeter road exists any more.
my dad bill allen worked at the gasworks in the retort houses,around 50s and 60s, i later worked for r whites soft drinks who moved to the site from barking,the canteen at r whites was where i met john wayne who was taking refreshments while filming brannigan,the becton alps was named after a sketch was filmed on it by the square world programme,they sold the alps to the germans for its carbon content but it seemed that every shovel full they took unearthed a ww2 bomb,
My great grandfather John Smith worked at the Beckton Gasworks in the early 1890s
Not sure what he did in 1891 he was here in Sydney Australia with his wife and young family , working as the first engineer at the newly build Mortlake Gasworks situated on the Parramatta River at Mortlake, his younger brother Thomas Smith soon followed him to Australia and also worked at the Gasworks
My dad was a blacksmith at Becton Gasworks.
He was apprenticed there as a lad shortly after The Great War (now called WWI), and worked continuously there until February 1951 when we left England and migrated to Australia; he was then aged 46.
During WWII he worked there during the day, and spent nights at his anti-aircraft gun, at Parsloes Park in Becontree, We lived in Langley Crescent.
He would not talk about his time at the gasworks during the war, but my Uncle Charlie was an industrial chemist there and told of the harrowing experiences and of the attacks by the Luftwaffe on the works and my fathers deeds, especially during one epic raid.
After the war my brother and I would go along at Christmas time when the gasworks gave a party for the children of their slaves.
My fathers wage in 1950 for a blacksmith was £4/17/10d per week
Hi Brian, thanks very much for your comment. I’m a politics masters student currently doing some research on the gasworks for my degree and I’d be really keen to hear more about your father’s experiences. If you’d be willing to talk please feel free to email me on 656217@soas.ac.uk. Many thanks, Caroline
My dad, Jim Turrington started as an apprentice fitter and turner at Beckton in 1937. His mum and dad were already working there working there.His apprenticeship was interrupted when he signed up with the RAF and served as a pilot from 1943-1947, then returned to complete his apprenticeship. He served many more years at Beckton and finished his career there in 1985, overseeing the decommissioning of the plant. By this time the number of employees had dwindled to about 200, and he spent much of his time liasing with film companies. I remember Stanley Kubrick sending him Christmas cards, and one year a quart bottle of vintage malt whiskey.
My father David Ritchie was also an Apprentice fitter and turner. He was 16 in 1932 when he started. Dad left Beckton in 1952. They must have known each other.
The History of the Gas Light & Coke Company, 1812 to 1949 By Stirling Everard gives an excellent insight into the Gas Works. My father was an apprentice fitter and turner 1931 and worked there through the war until 1953.
Hi does anyone know anything about an explosion at the gas works? My uncle Ted was apparently injured in it and the guy he was working with died but I can’t seem to find any information? Thanks
Hi
I remember an explosion as my dad worked there and came home with all his back and neck burnt as he was one of the last to get out before the explosion. Mum had to dress and pad it everyday. He went an awful color when the dressings were changed-but he still got on his bike each day and went to work. I don’t think they got sick pay and money was tight.
My father was also involved in the explosion, his arm was very badly burned, but, he made a good recovery
Hi my great grandfather died in an explosion at the gas works.this would have been around 1940 ish
Hello Adam;
My name is Peter Barton and my father’s best friend was named Peacock who I believe died at the gas works during the 1940s. He had two children who’s names were Dorothy and Rowland who were also my friends. I am trying to make contact with them and wondered if your great grandfather’s death was the same event ?
Regards
Peter Barton
Great insight into an industry that I didn’t know existed. I recently found out my great grandfather worked in the Beckton gas works (Edward davies) after leaving South Wales, circa 1944 my family never heard from him after that. If anyone has information or knows of any employee records I would be grateful if you could point me in the right direction.
Thanks
My father, David Ritchie, served his time as an apprentice fitter and turner with the gas works. This would have been about 1932. He then continued to work throughout the war years as it was a reserved occupation. He worked during the day and did Home Guard duties at night. He left there in 1952 and moved to Wiltshire. My grandfather Amos Defroand was gatekeeper there for 25yrs, I have the gold watch to prove it. My father grew up in Winsor Terrace as both his parents were employees of the then Governor of the company, Sir David Milne Watson. I remember the railway ran along the back of the houses in Winsor Terrace.
THERE WAS A LOCO DRIVER DAVIS IN THE BI PRODUCKS WORKES IN THE FIFTIES WHEN I WORKED THIER
As Martin says, one of the terraces of houses is still there(Winsor Terrace) though most have been demolished. At the end of the terrace the works entrance gates are still there. I stumbled upon all this on one of my perambulations, and looked it up on my return home.
On Google Earth you can see two remaining gasometers, and the outlines of several others that have been removed, as well as the remains of the jetties on the river to which coal would have been delivered by coastal colliers.
To the north and west is Beckton Sewage Works – the largest sewage works in Europe, treating sewage mixed with rainwater from Bazalgette’s Northern Outfall Sewer (beneath ‘The Greenway’) and the new Lee Tunnel.
A very interesting read!
My great-grandfather was a stoker at the gas works for many years, wonderful to get a little insight into it all.
Hello! My Great Great Grandfather worked there. I know for sure that he was there in 1882, as his wife accidentally drowned in December of that year and The Gasworks gave him 5 pounds to cover her funeral-very sad. He kept his 3 boys for 7 years but, had to surrender them into ‘care’ due to failing eyesight, poverty and horrible living conditions-that was in 1889. They were all sent to Canada in separate years as they became old enough. One of them was my Great Grandfather, whom I remember.
I worked for British Gas in the 1980/1990s and we had US Ambassador’s visit to the Becton Gas Works, I think it was as result of filming tbe Full Metal Jacket. However we gave him gift which was framed photograph of one of the gas holders which was commissioned on the same year as General Custer lost his life.
Hello, I watched Full Metal Jacket the other evening, part of me was sad that the location was blown up before I had a chance to visit. As a kid in East London I was normally in Valentines Park!
My Gt. Grandfather tipped the waste and helped form the Beckton Alps. Should you need further information contact me. Somewhere I have a photo of him driving his train.
Hello, I remember the Alps before the ski slope opened and closed. My Dad used to play football at the pitches on the corner (now long gone too).
Hi Brian, thanks for your comment. I’m a politics masters student currently doing some research on the gasworks for my degree and I’d be really keen to hear more about your great-grandfather’s experiences. If you’d be willing to talk please feel free to email me on 656217@soas.ac.uk. Many thanks, Caroline
I was born in Andover, Hampshire in 1944 and emigrated to Canada in 1947. I took a gap year in 1966 and after many adventures and much travel found myself in London. I needed to replenish my funds and ended up getting a job at the Beckton Gas Works. My title was Fifth Hand in the Valve Room. The regulars there took me under their wing and were friendly and helpful as I learned the basics of the operation and the particulars of my job which was to walk the site every hour and count the panels and then rivets on the gas tanks and thereby calculate the volume of gas available. A chap from another part of the site would phone me with this gathered information to add to mine. His East End accent was a challenge for me to understand at first by I eventually got the hang of it.
The windows in the building where our office was located were still bowed inwards from having been blasted during WWII.
I have fond memories of the experience.
Thank you for this wonderful story. I was a commercial aircraft engineer in much later times, so industrial engineering on this scale has always appealed to me. Must have been a very interesting place to have worked at.
Hi again Malcolm,
You would conclude from my timeline that I am a child of the sixties (and seventies) and that is so and I do reflect fondly now on my days of activism among the generation that “tried to change the world and make it a better place”.
I advise of that background in adding to the conversation here about the Beckton Gasworks. I’ve been reading some history of London’s labour movement and what should appear? – it’s a description of the seminal role played by the gas workers in organizing for the eight hour day and the inspiration they provided to the dock workers whose lives were even more miserable than their own. This was around the late 1880s and early 1890s, although the gas workers had undertaken militant action more than a decade earlier in the fight against the utterly deplorable working conditions in the “satanic mills” of industrialized Great Britain.
Hats off to these men who helped shape Britain’s trade union history.
As a child growing up in East Ham Beckton Gasworks was just there, we did not think any more about it and, I suppose, just imagined it would last forever. It was part of the bleak landscape we would view from the top deck of the 101 bus on our way to North Woolwich to ride on the free ferry. My friend Terry’s dad worked in the sulphuric acid plant so there was a missed opportunity for a guided tour! The internal railway was standard gauge by the way, and had around 50 tiny 0-4-0T engines that could negotiate the tight bends.
I’ve recently been taking an interest in the gasworks, reaching that age I guess, and it’s surprising how little information there is about Beckton and gasworks in general. A huge industry gone and almost forgotten.
Hello Tony, wouldn’t it have been great to get a guided tour! I do recall just about the “Beckton Alps” and a lot of industry in that area. We lived in Ilford and travelled to Abbey Wood most weekends via the ferry.
Hi Malcolm, it would seem Beckton Gasworks did arrange tours as there’s a lovely photo in Beckton Railways and Locomotives by Dave Marden of visitors being shunted around the high level section of the railway in a couple of coal wagons. Some of the party have jumped ship and are wandering off down the tracks! This book has many excellent photos, mostly of locos obviously, and I’ve found addition information in London’s East End Railways by D Brennand and Branch lines Around North Woolwich by J E Connor. Railway Bylines also did a short series on the Beckton branch.
By coincidence many years later I worked on the redevelopment of the terrace of houses in Savage Gardens. Unfortunately it was decide to demolish the terrace even though it was of some historic interest. Savage Gardens gained an unfortunate reputation as a comfort stop for visiting sailors and just avoided being renamed. This was the era of the Docklands Development Corporation and they were desperate to encourage private finance into the area. Now I suppose, like King’s Cross where I’ve lived for the last 30 years, a colourful past is either irrelevant or forgotten.
Hello Tony,
I’ll have to pick up a copy of those books. We’re losing so much industry to housing estates. I do wonder in many years to come what we will talk about on history forums.
My Great Grandmother lived for many many years in Kings Cross, Tonbridge House (Tonbridge Street) and Seymour House (Tavistock Road) so I know the area pretty well from numerous trips to see her.
My aunt and uncle had the shop down savage gardens
From the 1953 ‘s I worked as a stoker in No 5 retort house and any other we were allocated to, I have pictures of the stokers in action from “D” shift. I over the years progressed through the plants ending my days in the reforming plant having been through the oil gas the the carb water gas , the coke ovens ( driving the Wellman pusher and the Guide as required ) I am afraid that health and safety would not allow us to do the things we did then as part of NORMAL work
If you would like the pictures I could Email them to you I left the reforming plant 1967 to come to Australia and now being 86 yrs am taking things easy.
regards Ken
Hello Ken, thank you very much for your email message. Would you be happy to let me post any of your Beckton images on this blog for others to see?
I served apprenticeship at beckton from 1956 to 1969 my dad got gold watch 40 plus he’s name albert porterhe worked in canteen wet bar with nobby ellingford till redundant my name Ron porter played in football team Johnny was manager with boys then john stokes and Vic Clark I think I have a few monthly hard books ntgb
I done my apprentiship at Beckton as a plater & riveter and can remember albert and nobby, the canteen was huge the food was good and the cold drinks were most welcome
Hi Ron, just came across this interesting website and wondered if you knew my late father Grenville White. He worked at Beckton from aged 15 until he was made redundant in the early 70’s. He drove a dumper. Amongst the names of his workmates that I remember him talking about were Bobby Poolsey, little George, Albert Porter. He had relatives who also worked at Beckton.
My father passed away last December but I knew he enjoyed his time at the gasworks and every Friday having a drink at the Ferndale pub with his mates.
My dad worked there for many years till he died at the age of only 43. Harry Wallace, married to Iris
Me & my mates used to play over the derelict gas works at about 13 -16 years. Then ride our motor cycles around the site when a bit older , gaining access by speeding down the sewer bank. A very eerie place evoking many historical feelings. We used to climb up coal chutes . 100 feet up. Scares me now , luckily didn’t cave in. 1 day it did & a mate fell through, luckily only at 8 ft. Never went up chutes again
It is said that my great grandfather – “John Thomas Bristow was a Fireman at the Chemical Works at Beckton, East Ham and was killed 13 Aug 1900 by Sulpherated Hydrogen gas poisoning, leaving his 6 month pregnant wife a widow with 7 other children.” I’m wondering if there is any documentation to substantiate this?
I have been researching the Bristow family for a friend who is a great niece of John Thomas Bristow. I too was looking for evidence of this tragedy. Found the following in the British Newspaper archive (Barking, E.Ham & Ilford Advertiser, 18th Aug 1900):
‘TRAGIC FATALITY AT BECKTON GAS WORKS.
MEN OVERCOME BY NOXIOUS FUMES.
There was a very tragic fatality at Beckton early on Monday morning. A man named John Bristow, about 40 years of age, who lived in Harpour Road, Barking, and is described as a Tower man at the Gasworks, went on the night shift on Sunday. He should have been relieved at six o’clock on Monday morning, but when his successor, named Davies, entered the chamber, he could not find Bristow. A search was made, and eventually he was found lying close to the black fires. Davies went out and called for assistance. In a very short time he and five other men entered the fatal chamber, and all were overcome by the gas fumes. Others also came in, and eventually all the men were got out. It was then found that Bristow appeared to be dead. Dr. Guess, the resident doctor, with several members of the Ambulance Brigade, did their utmost to restore animation, but failed, and the body was removed on the ambulance to the East Ham Mortuary by Pc Robinson and others. Several of the men who heroically went to the rescue were overcome by the gas and were in a dangerous condition for a long time. Fortunately none of them succumbed, and, so far, they are making satisfactory progress. Mr. Coroner Ambrose held the inquest on the body of Bristow at East Ham on Thursday, and the Jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death. The men who so heroically attempted to rescue him from the fatal chamber are reported to be doing well. Deceased leaves a widow and seven children, for whom much sympathy is felt.’
Hope this answers your questions about this event.
Hi Annette Knight.
Thank you so much for this, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it! I am on Ancestry and was wondering if you were as well. If so, we could hook up there and collaborate on the family! Let me know.
Again thanks so so much.
Debbie Storey
Hi Debbie
Really pleased I was able to help.
Sorry I didn’t answer before.
Yes I am on Ancestry as ajdennis20. Looked for you but couldn’t find you.
Annette
Interested in PC Robinson who with a wreath, attended my gt.grandfathers (barge skipper) funeral in Northfleet, Kent in 1893. Could never work out why there could be connection but will search the newspaper you mention.
Ron Philpott worked there as a fireman for several years.
I remember standing on the sewer bank to watch when the Retort doors were opened, what a sight! Ive looked all over for a colour pic but so far have not found one. It was such a sight that I cannot imagine that nobody took one if anybody knows of any please respond
Hi do you remember a man called Dave Deegan or Dickie Deegan or Hugh Deegan who was also a fireman at the products works. Many thanks
Hi David, Went to East Ham Tech in the late 50’s early 60’s and every Sept, the beginning of the new academic year, 50 to a 100 (maybe more) apprentices from Becton Gasworks would start, but within a few months it had reduced to 10’s. Not sure whether they were given the sack or just left. I also remember the smog in the Barking area, had to walk home many times, probably due to the gas works.
my dad worked at becton gas works he was a instrument maker ther
Hello David, my biggest regret is being a bit too young to have seen the miles and miles of narrow gauge railway that was at the site. Hard to imagine that kind of industry in London any more. Now that progress has turned everything into clean steel and glass office blocks.
Hi my name is Martin taylor and I live in the old gas work houses. I have been interested in the gas works if u could send picture’s of Windsor terrace houses if u have any thank u.
My grandparents and father lived in Winsor terrace. Will try to go d some old photos.