Gas House Passage

This cut-through to Moat House Road is locally known as Gas House Lane and formed the northern boundary of the gas works. However, it features on older maps so was probably there before the gas works was built.

The Company

The Kirton in Lindsey Gas, Light and Coke Company was established in 1856 and produced coal gas for nearly 100 years until it closed in 1955. It had a chequered history! For example, in 1866 inhabitants of the town started complaining about the ‘quality & quantity’ of the gas. A report in the local newspaper talked of ‘such impure and smelly gas that it was impossible to remain in a closed room where the gas was burning’ – they threatened to stop their supply of gas unless it could be resolved. It is believed it was caused by cheap coal being used.

The manager in 1900, when this picture was taken, was a Mr Little, known as ‘Gassy’ Little.

The production of gas produced heat so the walls of the building were warm and became notorious as the meeting place for courting couples!

In the 1950s the works went into public ownership, becoming part of the East Midlands Gas Company before production ceased in 1955.

Mr Odlin, was the last engineer at the works and was there for about 20 years. He passed away some time ago but not before he provided a plan of the works and wrote a detailed account of how the works operated. Interestingly, he simply calls Gas House Lane ‘The Ten Foot’.

Here is his article on life at the Gas Works