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Gas works retort house, Horseferry Road, Westminster, London
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Gas works retort house, Horseferry Road, Westminster, London
Men at work in the retort house of the gas works at Horseferry Road, Westminster, London. The retort house contained the retorts (vessels) in which coal was heated to generate the gas. At this time the streets were lit by gas.
1842
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Media ID 23149674
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1840s 1842 Arched Coal Conditions Heated Horseferry Manual Retort Retorts Turning Utilities Utility Vessels Westminster Generate
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the daily labor of the men working in the retort house of the Gas Works at Horseferry Road, Westminster, London, in the early Victorian era around 1842. The retort house was the heart of the gasworks, where coal was heated in retorts, or vessels, to generate the gas that would be used to light the streets of London. The arched building in the background, with its tall chimneys releasing plumes of smoke, is a testament to the industrial might of the time. The men in the photograph are seen working in close proximity to each other, their faces focused intently on their tasks. They are dressed in heavy work clothes, their bodies bearing the physical toll of manual labor. The scene is one of industry and determination, as they turn the cranks and tend to the retorts, ensuring the continuous production of gas. The streets of London were still largely unlit by electricity at this time, and gas was the primary source of illumination. The utility of the gasworks was therefore essential to the daily life of the city. The transformation of coal into gas was a remarkable feat of engineering and innovation, and this photograph offers a fascinating glimpse into the human side of this early industrial process.
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