History
THE GAS WORKS Cindy Chant, Sherborne Blue Badge Guide
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ow for something completely different from my stagecoach stories: the story of gas works in Sherborne. And yes, the gas works were an important part of Sherborne’s history, and their remains can still be seen today nestled beneath the Terraces’ playing fields, just south of the railway station. But, I hear it is possible that new houses may be built there, so this remnant of our industrial past could soon be forgotten… The gas works were built in 1836 and by 1853 the gas company was using 800 tonnes of coal a year – all of which was hauled by road from a pit in Radstock, Somerset. Now, before I take this story any further, I 60 | Sherborne Times | March 2021
must tell you of my own personal connection to all of this. My ancestors were from coal mining stock; my great great grandfather, great grandfather, grandfather and indeed my own father, all worked at this pit in Radstock! That very much makes me feel part of this story, although I have no personal memories, as it was only when I began my research that I discovered this fascinating link. The coal was brought by horse and cart and was being sold in Sherborne at 18s 2d a tonne (that’s 91p in today’s money). The gas used in Sherborne was known as ‘coal gas’, which was made by heating, but not burning, coal; the residue was turned into coke and many buildings were heated by coke (during the
