Paisley, Well Street, Gasholder

Paisley, Well Street, Gasholder is a water-sealed, 2 lift column, 1,390,000 cubic feet capacity holder dating from 1890. The tank is by James Goldie and Son of Glasgow and the holder is by Hanna, Donald and Woilson Ltd. By the time of decommissioning, it had been used to store natural gas.

The diameter of the different lifts of the holder are as follows: 157' 6" (Top), 160' 0" (Second) and both with a depth of 36' 0".

The holder is constructed from 18 cast iron columns 75' 6" in height and 5' 0" at the base.

There are 2 tiers of cast iron and steel girders 27' 6" in length by 2' 9" in depth. No tie rods.

The crown rise is 8' 0". It has 2 flat manhole covers and is fitted with anti-vacuum devices (mechanical operation trip; holder low pressure trip).

It has 2 X 6" valves at centre.

The sheeting thickness is as follows: Crown, Outer Row is 3/8". Sides thickness, Top Row is 1/4" and at the Bottom Row is 3/8".

Cups and grips are 6" pressed plate cup.

The top curb and crown framing has a top curb of 5" X 6" Double Angle.

Access to the vertical steel ladders.

The tank measures 162' 0" in diameter, with a depth of 36' 6" with the top curb at ground level.

The gasholder is of rivetted, wrough iron construction.

The tank is underground and of brick and puddled clay construction. The inlet is 24" and outlet is 30", both positioned on the west wide. The connections are together.

Anti-flood devices fitted.Information from [insurance] Report on Examination of Gasholder (water sealed type), British Gas Corporation - Scottish Region, Provan, Glagow, 13/10/ 1994.

MS/7943

NS 47308 64277 A historic building survey was undertaken of redundant Gasholder No. 4 on Well Street in Paisley, in advance of demolition. The work took place between January and August 2020.

Gasholder No. 4 and several governor and instrument houses are all that remain of a once large and highly regarded gasworks and holder site, praised for its combination of gas and electrics which saved labour hours as new automated methods were adopted. Constructed in 1890, the gasholder is a late example of its double order, double tier Type 14 column guided design, with its Type F circular patterned horizontal girders. It is the oldest surviving telescopic gasholder in Scotland and was the largest at the time of its construction. It is also the only one of its kind that remains with the ornamental classical detailing making it a thing of beauty as well as a functional industrial structure. The gasholder is a celebration of its location in Paisley with the old crest-of-arms on the column pedestals. Later phases of the site operation are shown with automation systems and safety fixtures.

A second ‘Phase II’ site visit was undertaken during the demolition of the gasholder which identified a brick-built and concrete-faced tank with stepped-out design on its outer face and a central dumpling which had slumped in one area. Guide rails were seen set within the tank wall along with a trussed frame crown support structure. A dry well housing the gas mains and syphon pipework was also identified.

Archive: NRHE

Funder: SGN

Diana Sproat, Gemma Hudson and Robert Usher −

AOC Archaeology Group

(Source: DES Volume 21)