Catalogue description LEICESTER CORPORATION

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Leicester Gas Light and Coke Company, 1821-1860

Leicester Gas Company, 1860-1878

Leicester Corporation, 1878-1949

• Leicester, Leicestershire
• Gas industry

Leicester Gas Light and Coke Co was formed on 24.3.1821. The original works were built at Belgrave Gate, three-quarters mile from the city centre and adjacent to the Leicester Canal. The city streets were first lit on 31.10.1821. The Leicester Gas Act 1838 was introduced to ensure the company could retain its monopoly in a large city and raise further capital. By the Leicester Gas Act 1860, the Leicester Gas Light and Coke Co was dissolved and a new company, into which all the assets of the old company were vested, the Leicester Gas Company was incorporated. This act also extended the limits of supply to include Knighton, Oadby, Erington, Humberstone, Belgrave, Burstall, Leicester Abbey and Aylestone. Increasing demand led to the raising of further capital through the Leicester Gas Act 1873 and the opening of a new works at Aylestone Road near the Railway and Canal. The Leicester Gas Act 1877 act extended the limits of supply still further to cover Glen Parva, Braunstowe and Glenfield Frith.

The Leicester Corporation Gas and Water Transfer Act 1878 transferred the company to Corporation control and added Ansley, Glenfield, Groby, Retby, Kirby, Muxloe, Lubbesthorpe, Thurcaston Thurnby, Bushby and Stoughton to the area of supply. The works at Aylestone Road was expanded in 1887, 1897 and 1902 with Water Gas plant being introduced in 1899. The limits of supply were extended further through the Leicester Corporation Act 1908 to take in Markfield, Rothley and Woodhouse. In the 1930s and 40s the corporation began taking over other companies, namely the Syston and Thurmaston Gas Light and Coke Ltd (Leicester Gas Order 1936), the Narborough Blaby Enderby and Whetstone Gas Light and Coke Co Ltd (Leicester Gas Order 1941) and Coalville UDC gasworks (1943).

The Whitwick and Coalville Gaslight Company had been formed in 1859 and was registered as a Joint Stock Company on 16 Sep 1859. The Whitwick & Coalville Gas Act 1898 dissolved the company and reincorporated it as the Whitwick & Coalville Gas Company. The statutory area of supply was the parishes of Coalville, Whitwick, Thringstone, Swannington, Ravenstone, Snibstone with Alton Grange, Bardon and part of the parish of Hugglestone. The gasworks was situated at the junction of Green Lane and Hermitage Rd. A clause in the Act gave Coalville UDC the right to purchase the undertaking if they obtained Parliamentary authorisation which the did in the Coalville UDC Gas Act 1899. Leicester Corporation, by an agreement dated 3 Jul 1942, undertook to purchase the Coalville UDC gas undertaking subject to Parliamentary approval. At the same time they agreed to provide the Coalville undertaking with a bulk supply. The Leicester Gas Order 1943 approved the transfer and it came into effect on 1 Apr 1943.

On Nationalisation Leicester Corporation gas undertaking became part of the city of Leicester sub-division of the Leicester and Northants division of the EMGB.

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