Monument record 2578/3/0 - Gas Works, The Valley

A Gasometer is marked on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25inch to 1 mile maps. A Gas Works later grows around the Gasometer and is shown on the Second and Third Editions of the Ordnance Survey 6inch to 1 mile maps. One of the later gas holders seems to still be intact and is shown on the Ordnance Survey Land Line Vector Maps.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1896-98, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2472.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1911-1914, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH3843.

<4> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Land Line and Master Map Vector Maps (Maps and Plans). SCH4491.

<5> The Environment Partnership (TEP), 2021, Stewart Street Gasholder Station, Crewe, Cheshire, Historic Building Recording (Client Report). SCH8974.

In 1864, with the establishment of a new steel works in the Crewe and developments at the western side of the town a new gasworks was built at Wistaston Road and extended in 1882-1886.

The National Archives notes the following about the Crewe undertaking:
'A small gasworks in Crewe was first established in the 1840's to supply gas to the railway workers at the locomative works. In 1865 a larger supply was established by the private works of the London and North Western Railway Co (LNWR) under the powers of the LNWR Act. New works were built in Wistaston Road and extended between 1882 and 1886. Several unsuccessful attempts were made by Crewe Corporation to purchase the undertaking but it remained in the ownership of the railway company and did not vest in the NWGB at nationalisation.'

The first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1875 shows the gas works as occupying a relatively isolated position to the west of Crewe, in the river valley of Coppenhall Brook. To the south of the site was an orderly residential development with National School. These were likely workers accommodation associated with the London and North Western Railway Company's Steel Works which was located a short distance to the north. The gasworks was located to the west side of what is now Stewart Street and included a single gasholder with three (presumably tripod) guides and set in its
own compound away from the works buildings.

By 1898 the steel works, now Crewe Works, had expanded significantly and the town of Crewe had expanded westwards to meet the works. The gasworks had also been expanded to form a linear arrangement along the now formalised Victoria Avenue which led to the new Queens Park which had been opened in 1887. The originall gasholder appears to have been demolished and two new gasholders and a tar and ammonia tank were now located on the site. A Drill Hall is labelled at the intersection of Stewart Street and Victoria Avenue and an Infant School was also located close by.

By the 1970s the main part of the gasworks had been demolished and replaced with a Depot; the eastern gasholder remained extant but the western gasholder had been demolished. This gasholder remained standing until the 1990s.