Birmingham and Staffordshire Gas Light Company

The Birmingham and Staffordshire Gas Light Company operated in Birmingham and Staffordshire from 1825 to 1875.

A map of the Swan Village Gas Works.

History

In 1825, the Birmingham and Staffordshire Gas Light Company was founded by act of parliament to manufacture and supply gas to Birmingham and a number of surrounding towns, including West Bromwich;[1] the lighting of the main road through the town was also mentioned in the Act.[2]

The Swan Village Gas Works were the first part of the complex to be constructed, and when completed in 1829 were the largest in the country.[3]

In 1874, the Mayor of Birmingham, Joseph Chamberlain, lead the Council to buy out the company. An Act of Parliament was obtained in July 1875 and the Birmingham Corporation Gas Committee was set up.[4]

References
  1. Stephens, W. B., A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 7, the City of Birmingham, 1964, p. 352
  2. Stephens, W.B. "A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 17, Offlow Hundred (Part). West Bromwich: Public services". British History Online. Victoria County History. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  3. Betts, Colin. "Swan Village Gas Works". The Industrial Railway Record. No.20 August 1968. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  4. "Municipal Enterprise at Birmingham". Cardiff Times. Wales. 16 October 1875. Retrieved 13 August 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.


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