The skeleton of the last remaining gasholder at King's Cross, with St Pancras behind:
There were originally nine gasholders here. No.8's the only one left.
Mick Hartley
Politics and Culture
Posted in Uncategorized
2 responses to “Gasholder 8”
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Wonderful! (& I’m so glad I clicked the link and saw Angela Inglis’ site.) I was working in Ben Jonson Road, Stepney, when they demolished the four gasholders there on the corner – one of which was the oldest surviving gasholder in Western Europe. 1867. The tallest one – not the oldest – was used as a lookout point in the War; you can just imaging the men from the gasworks going up there in the night..
I was so attached to them that when I got that job I was thrilled at the thought of just being next to them and being able to see them all the time! For some weird reason, even honoured to – partly because of their beauty and grandeur, but also I think because of the history of the people, the industrial past – the huge labour that went on there, the way I think we should all be humbled by the (inimaginably, to us) hard work our ancestors did.
Anyway, everybody knew the diggers were coming, but it was still bad news when they did, and the demolition started. Now: Bellway Homes (there was a tide of local feeling in favour of the homes, & indeed I know two people who live in there. They’re still ugly, trivial buildings).
I heard they were going to use part of one of the gasometers for a memorial sculpture.
And btw, thanks for linking to the Esoteric London post. I hope you’ll keep checking out the site! I think they’re doing great stuff. & I’ve got a roll of photos I took of the destruction of the gasometers & I’m hoping to get one of up there.LikeLike
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Thanks Ms B. Yes, I now have Esoteric London bookmarked.
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Mick Hartley 
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