Hyde Gas Works, Raglan Street

The Gas Works

The original gas works at Hyde were founded by Mr. Isaac Booth, about the year 1844, and were situated behind the Globe Inn m Back Lane. Mr. Booth was a man of enterprise and public spirit who took a prominent part in the local life of the day. He was one of the early churchwardens at St. George’s church. He was the first High Bailiff of the Court Of Request at Hyde, in the days before the establishment of the county court. He also ran a butchering, grocery, and public house business combined at the Gardeners’ Arms, Back Lane. The first street lamp in Hyde to be lighted with gas was the one in the middle of Clarendon Place, opposite the Queens Hotel. Mr. Booth’s gas business was very prosperous, but after a time there was an agitation conducted by Dr. Hague and other prominent townsmen, to secure a better supply of gas on a more extensive scale. Ultimately amicable terms were settled between Mr. Booth and the promoters of the new Hyde Gas Company, and Mr. Booth sold his works to the Company, which shortly afterwards transferred the manufacturing operations to Raglan Street, where they built the Hyde Gas Works seen in these pictures

The Hyde Gas Company was formed on July 5th 1854, and in 1855 was incorporated by Act of Parliament with powers to supply gas in the townships of Hyde, Werneth, Newton, Godley, Bredbury and Romiley. At that time the Board of Directors consisted of Messrs. Samuel Hibbert, Frederick Tinker, Thomas Thornely, James Maugham, Joseph Collier, Thomas Hague, and Sampson Ardern.



In the first 70 years of its existence the Company witnessed many changes in the town which it principally served, and the expansion and development of the town were reflected in the expansion and development of the Company’s business. Gas sales per annum increased from 69,964,700 cubic feet to 283, 180,500 cubic feet, and the number of consumers rose from 4,500 to 11,200, and the mileage of mains from 24 miles to 53 miles. The development of its business was met by the installation of a new manufacturing and distributing plant which was the latest and most efficient type of its day. The Company was also one of the pioneers in the application of Vertical Retorts to gas production, and the Waterless Gasholder when it was erected was one of the first of its kind in the north of England. By the 1930’s the company possessed a well equipped works capable of serving the town with a satisfactory supply of gas at a reasonable rate.

Most of the above is from A History Of Hyde

by

Thomas Middleton.

I cannot recall when the works ceased.. or gasometer was demolished... if anyone can add to this post please do so.

Update To Post

One of our regulars.. 'Ghost Of Red Pump Street' (great name), as come up with some great info for us concerning the iconic Gasometer.., "the concrete base was poured in November 1930 with construction finishing January 1931. On completion it was the second largest holder in the North of England. It consisted of 325,000 rivets, 25,000 bolts, 864 metal panels and 212 steps on nine staircases"

His dad was right the design was chosen after a delegation had visted Germany and opted to have the german designed tower !!. ..

Thanks for this information

I bet I'm not the only one who as climbed this... I did it a few times... once early morning with Tony Collins... it was great watching the town start to come alive.... we had to get down when the police came... we were told not to do it again.... but we had to later that day as we had left our air rifles up there when the police came.. At one time a Kestral had her nest there for a number of years.