Catalogue description BECKTON WORKS

This collection contains estate and property records and drawings.

Beckton Works

Work began on what was henceforth to be called Beckton (after Simon Adam Beck, the then Governor of the Court of Directors of The Gas Light and Coke Company) on 19 Nov 1868 at Galleons Reach, Barking on the north bank of the river Thames. The works began to operate on 25 Nov 1870. Beckton was intended to meet London's increasing demand for gas and was planned in the context of the difficulty of expanding the existing works at Westminster, Horseferry Road Lane, Curtain Road. The Beckton works included a pier to allow for the docking and unloading of coal ships and barges (expanded in 1904) a 48 inch main to convey gas to the city of London, 4 horizontal retort houses (increased to 14 by 1897) and 4 holders (rising to 9). A consequence of the opening of Beckton was to act as one of the triggers to the series of amalgamations of other London gas undertakings into the Gas Light and Coke Company.