Strum
Gasholders behind Kings Cross
When this photo was taken (c1990), there was talk of demolishing these 'eyesores'. Today they are (protected) listed buildings.
#photography #KingsX #gasholders #sunset
Jul 22, 2023 at 8:26amWeb
Show threadStrumJul 22, 2023
I understand that some won't know what gasholders are/were.
Back when domestic gas was cooked from coal, the gas was stored in vast, domed containers, which rose up, under gas pressure, within these skeletal frames.
Then in the evening, when demand for gas was high, these containers sank back, providing gas pressure to the town's kitchens.
Most towns/city districts had them. Usually, 'Town gas' was produced by municipal authorities.
This, in turn, funded many splendid UK Town/City Halls.
Show threadSapJul 22, 2023
@strum You mean... you mean... they weren't really where all the baked beans were stored??
Show threadStrumJul 22, 2023
@MrPDaniel
Only on Sundays...
Show threadEpistatacadamJul 22, 2023
@strum interesting that when I was young in chemistry we used town gas in school land to convert iron oxide into Iron. As the major components of town gas were Hydrogen and carbon monoxide. No one was asked to convert to methane, it was safer as it wasn't toxic, but apparently many people don't want to change back to hydrogen...😳
Show threadGary ParkerJul 22, 2023
@strum there was a cricket ground somewhere in the UK with them nearby. When televised, over the course of a Test Match, you could see them going up and down
Show threadStrumJul 22, 2023
@witewulf
That's The Oval, in Kennington. The skeletons are still there.
There used to be a superstition that the ball would swing more, when the gasholders were full.
Show threadChloé RaccoonJul 22, 2023
@strum Mark Williams commented in "industrial revalations" about the look of them: 'so if you ever wondered why your gasometers look old, it's because they are' *nods*
Show threadpetnoodleJul 22, 2023
@strum Thank you! I always wondered how you could keep gas in one of those obviously unenclosed structures. I've only ever seen them in England