Remains of Lancashire gasworks from Industrial Revolution to be protected

140720 Graphic reconstruction of the gas holder Historic England
Graphic reconstruction of the gas holder Credit: Historic England

Remains of Britain's earliest gasworks used to light a Lancashire village's spinning mill are to be protected as part of the nation's heritage from the Industrial Revolution.

Dolphinholme Worsted Spinning Mill near Lancaster, built in 1795, had the gasworks added in 1813, making it one of the first mills to be lit by gas and probably the earliest gas plant or gaswork remains known to survive in the world, according to Historic England.

Through gas illumination, Victorian mill owners could save the expense of up to 1,500 candles per night.

The gasworks also lit the mill owner's house and the village street, operating until 1867.

The gasworks were installed by acclaimed engineer Samuel Clegg before public spaces or homes had gas lighting and before gas was used to heat houses.

Drawing of Samuel Clegg, gas engineer (1781-1861) Credit: Lancashire Archives

Clegg went on to build the first public gasworks at Westminster in 1813 before bringing gas lighting to towns and cities across England.

The surviving gasworks include what is thought to be the earliest 'gas holder' remains in the world - consisting of the gas tank, counter-weight, drains, pipes and enclosing wall, as well as remnants of the gas flues, chimney, and the 'retort house', which contained ovens where coal was burnt to produce gas.

Dolphinholme Worsted Mill and Gasworks, Lancashire. Credit: Historic England

The metal 'gas bell', or cylinder, has not survived.

The remains have been protected by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the advice of Historic England, by adding them to the National Heritage List for England as a scheduled monument.

It means any future changes to the site, on private land, will not result in any loss of its significance.

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: "Dolphinholme Worsted Spinning Mill and gasworks are exceptionally rare as one of the earliest surviving sites that connect us to the Industrial Revolution.

"This pioneering era of our history shaped the modern world.

"It is vitally important we protect sites like these for generations to come so we understand how engineering, industry and our wider society has developed."

The original gas works chimney of c.1811 housed two flues and is believed to have been designed as an obelisk. Credit: Historic England

Wednesday's announcement coincides with the Council for British Archaeology's 29th Festival of Archaeology, which this year will run a digital festival from July 11 to 19 and on-the-ground events from October 24 to November 1 2020.