IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Mitchell Knowe, BIGGAR, ML12 6DB

The meter measuring the gas output from the works into the town's gas main system. As well as displaying an extremely important measurement, the decorated face of the meter dial is an unexpected thing of beauty in the functional surroundings.

A wonderful museum displaying the way coal gas was manufactured for local supply.

This is the only remaining gasworks in Scotland. It was built in 1839 to provide gas for street lighting and domestic use. It operated until 1963. Coal was heated in retorts to drive off the gas and coal-tar. Tar and poisonous Hydrogen Sulphide were removed from the gas, and the residual coke was used to heat the retorts. The resulting clean gas was stored in small gasometers to maintain a supply at constant pressure for the town. Most local gasworks in Scotland were demolished after a gas grid using natural gas from the North Sea, became available in the 1970s. Biggar Gasworks, however, was preserved with financial support from Historic Scotland, the Scottish Development Department and the National Museums of Scotland. The museum is now in the care of the Biggar Museum Trust.

The video showing a similar small gasworks operating near the end of the 1970s is a real eye-opener: burning coal unloaded into open barrows and the retorts recharged by skilfully thrown shovelfuls of coal, all done without hard hats or other protective gear.

Looking towards the Gas Works Museum.

This is a George Waller of Stroud horizontal single cylinder steam engine with Beale's sliding vane exhauster. This was once a commonplace piece of kit and was used to pull the gas off the battery at a low pressure. Although not original to the site it is in keeping.

Another view showing the externally guided gas holder - sometimes called a gasometer although strictly that is a device for measuring gas. Modern gas holders were self-supporting and spirally guided, thus they lacked an external frame.

The retort house. Coal was heated anaerobically and the resultant gas passed up the ascension pipes to the hydraulic main across the top. The coal residue was then known as coke and could be burnt as a smokeless fuel.

The museum entrance is on the left by the building marked as gas showrooms. This was out of season and the site was not open (curses).

A large stream which runs through Biggar.