Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.10868

    Gasworks

    Date
    1815
    Creator
    Rudolph Ackermann (1764 - 1834, German/British) , Publisher
    Object type
    Library reference
    24198
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 135mm
    width (print): 295mm
    Subject
    Description
    Sectional elevation of a gasworks for producing and storing coal gas for lighting towns. Showing the retort furnace and chimney; wet lime processing equipment with tar tower and cisterns; and gasometer.

    Plate 7 from A practical treatise on gas-light; exhibiting a summary description of the apparatus and machinery best calculated for illuminating streets, houses, and manufactories by Frederick Accum (London, R Ackermann, 1815).

    The accompanying text states that: “PLATE VII Exhibits a perpendicular section of a gas-light apparatus, calculated for lighting towns, or large districts of streets and houses.” The plate shows equipment probably based upon that used by the [Westminster] Gas Light and Coke Company (founded 1812) which operated the Curtain Road gasworks at Hackney in London at this period.

    Inscribed above: “Pl.VII,’ facing page 119’. Scale 1 inch: 6 feet.

    Friedrich Christian Accum (1769-1838), his name anglicised to Frederick Accum, was a German chemist best-known for his interest in the introduction of gas lighting to London. He was employed briefly at the Royal Institution at the same time as Humphry Davy.
    Associated place
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          > Germany
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          > United Kingdom
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