Gas Light and Coke Company

The Chartered Gas Light and Coke Company, often known as the Chartered Company, was the first gas undertaking in the world, concerned chiefly, until the 1880s, with the production of gas for lighting purposes. It was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1810 and the charter was granted by the Prince Regent in 1812.

The origins of the gas industry lay with the discovery of coal gas in the early 18th century. Gas lighting for homes, buildings and streets was pioneered by Scottish engineer William Murdoch. He worked with entrepreneurs such as F A Winsor to secure financial backing. Winsor's ideal was to have a central gas works making gas for illumination in every town and city in the country. After the accession of Samuel Clegg to the company, a second works was established at Providence Court, Great Peter St. This was the first operational gas works to supply gas for public consumption and became known as the Peter Street Works. As demand increased another site at Curtain Road, Moorfields was established.

The gas light alternative proved to be popular; simple open flame gas burners provided a much brighter light than could be obtained from candles or oil lamps and also proved to be safer and cheaper. Developments at Westminster were followed by the rapid expansion of gas works and their Companies across London and other cities and large towns in England and Wales. By 1815, 30 miles of gas mains had been laid in London. By 1830, there were 200 gas Companies, by 1850 there 800 gas Companies, 13 of which were in London, and by 1860 there were nearly 1,000 gas Companies.

The Chartered Company was quick to explore more effective and efficient means of manufacturing gas. Coal gas was first produced using retorts (horizontal tubes) which were charged (filled with coal) and, having given off the gas, discharged (the coke removed) by hand through a door at one end. These retorts were made of iron and distorted badly with prolonged heating. Fire clay retorts with iron lids were introduced around 1822 and the through retort, a coal-gas retort with charging door and discharge door, 20 feet long and sharing heat at the former dead-end space, was developed in 1831 by George Lowe, the Company's Superintendent of Works. The through retort raised the charge to 600 pounds and lowered heating fuel to 400 pounds.

Falling dividends caused by the rising competition between companies in London impelled the Company's Directors in 1850 to nominate a special committee to consider the question of amalgamation, and in 1867 a committee in the House of Parliament advocated amalgamation. During the 1870s and 1880s the Chartered Company absorbed the other gas companies operating in London: Brentford Gas Company, City of London Gas Light and Coke Company, Equitable Gas Light Company, Great Central Gas Consumers Company, Imperial Gas Light and Coke Company, Independent Gas Light and Coke Company, London Gas Light Company and Western Gas Light Company. From 1878, the Company began to experience increasing competition from newly established electrical lighting Companies which were applying to the Government for powers. This, combined with the expansion of the Company, opened up opportunity for a domestic market with the likes of gas cooking being promoted.

In 1924, the Gas Light and Coke Company amalgamated with Brentford Gas Company, allowing for expansion and development and, in 1932, the Company acquired Brentford Gas Co. In 1949, the Chartered Gas Light and Coke Company was nationalised and placed under control of North Thames Gas Board. During its time as the Chartered Gas Light and Coke Company, it had controlled 50 different works in the North Thames area. It is a direct forebearer of British Gas.