BECKTON GASWORKS
HISTORY
SITE HISTORY
Beckton Gasworks opened for use in 1870, taking its name from the Gas Light and Coke Company’s governor, Simon Adams Beck. During its 100 years of operation, the site had its own railway system, with connections to a series of wharfs over the Thames, where coal from Durham was off-loaded for production at the gasworks.
Until its closure in 1969, the gasworks was the largest of its kind in Europe. Little of the gasworks’ infrastructure remains today and most of the land lies derelict, creating an opportunity for redevelopment which embraces the site’s history.
You can read the brochure we used on our guided site tours below:
TIMELINE
(‘Beckton Gas and Product Works and surrounding area in the 1890s’, Ordinance Survey, National Library of Scotland)
Beckton Gasworks opened in 1870. The plant supplied the City of London with town gas which was transported across the city.
(‘Portrait of Simon Adams Beck’, Ironmongers Hall)
Simon Adams Beck, governor of the Gas Light and Coke Company for Beckton. In 1872 five men were imprisoned for a year following a strike at Beckton gasworks after two workers were fired for requesting a pay rise. Eventually, a National Union of Gasworkers and General Labourers was formed.
SS Princess Alice, a British passenger peddle steamer, collided with another ship at Gallions Reach next to Beckton Gasworks, sadly killing hundreds of ordinary Londoners returning home from a day trip to the seaside.
The country’s conversion to North Sea Gas saw the redundancy of many traditional gasworks sites saw the closure of the gasworks in 1969.
(‘The shelled city of Hue at Beckton Gasworks’, Randall Wilkins, Warner Bros)
Beckton Gasworks being used as a film site for Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket.
(Beckton Gasworks 1988, Thomas Deckker Architect)
The Gasworks as a derelict site following closure.
(‘Skiers prepare to ascend Beckton Alps’, London Borough of Newham Heritage Service)
Princess Diana opened the famous slope in 1989. Despite its popularity, plans to develop the ‘alps’ into an indoor Ski centre fell through.
(Oasis ‘D’You Know What I Mean’, London Royal Docks)
In 1997 Oasis filmed the music video for their hit D’You Know What I Mean’ at the Beckton gasworks site.
The Gasworks site today
