Civil Engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders

As early as 1805 some shops in Glasgow and the lecture theatre of Andersonian Institute there (later Anderson’s College) were lit by gas made at the point where it was used. The idea of a central plant with a distribution system was developed in London by Samuel Clegg in 1812. In 1816 the Edinburgh Gas Light Company was established, and Glasgow followed in 1817. Subsequently some 12 gasworks were built in the 1830s of which that at Biggar, now preserved as a museum, affords an excellent small-town example.

Approximately 68 000 cu. ft of gas per day was produced until 1973, when the national grid distribution system took over. The original gasworks was built in 1839, but only the original retort house has survived, as a coal store. The gasworks was extended in 1858 when offices, workshops and a second gasholder were built. The capacity of this holder was increased to its present size in 1918 by Balfour & Company of Leven who re-sheeted it in welded steel in 1965. The gasworks closed in 1973 when North Sea gas was brought to Biggar.

The earliest works were designed by John Ritchie of Lanark and the apparatus and pipework were supplied by Robertson & Wilson of Glasgow. Masonry work was by Watson & Robertson of Biggar. The gasworks has been scheduled as an ancient monument and is curated by the Royal Museum of Scotland.

R Paxton and J Shipway 2007.

Reproduced from 'Civil Engineering heritage: Scotland - Lowlands and Borders' with kind permission of Thomas Telford Publishers.