Catalogue description PRESTON GAS COMPANY

Administration, finance, legal, estate & property, technical, incident, personnel, marketing, retail and transcript records

Preston Gas-Light Company, 1815-1839

Preston Gas Company, 1839-1949

• Gas industry

An undertaking, named the Preston Gas-Light Company, was set up in 1815 largely through the influence of Mr. I. Wilcockson (who became Chairman of the company and remained so until 1863). It was the first provincial company formed to supply gas for public lighting. A gas works was established in the centre of Preston at Avenham Lane, and operations commenced in 1816. In 1833 the company purchased a water works to supply the gas works with water.

In 1836 a proposal was made that a charter of incorporation be applied for. This charter was finally obtained in 1839 and the company became the Preston Gas Company. Further parliamentary powers were sought and obtained in 1853, 1865, 1879, 1894 ans 1911, these succeeded in extending the company's limits of supply.

To meet the increasing demands for gas, two production stations were built in Moor Lane and in Walker Street, three storage and distributing stations were also built in Glover Street, Ribbleton Lane and Walton. In 1872 the company built its central offices and showrooms in Fishergate. In 1924 the company acquired thirty four acres of land at Lostock Hall, three miles south of Preston, for the construction of new works. The works was completed in 1931 and the existing production stations in the centre of Preston were closed down and dismantled.

On nationalisation in 1949 the company vested and became part of the Preston Group of the North West Gas Board.