Gasworks

Cadw's description

Location

100 m W of the Courtyard Flats and on the S side of the lane leading to the Mencap Gardens.

History

Buildings of a small gasworks which supplied the needs of Stackpole Court. Late Cl9, converted from farm buildings after 1865.

Exterior

At the W side of the gasworks yard a building originally with five arched openings has been divided by a later cross-wall which incorporated a sliding door. The S part of the building became the Retort House, approx. 4.5 m by 4.2 m. Its two front arches were partially filled and taller windows formed. The roof was raised about 2 m. A flue was formed in its S wall for the retort furnace. High level circular openings, unglazed, in both N and S gables.

The remaining three-arched section became the coal store. Cobbled path from the gateway.

At the S of the Retort House was added a Purifier House, evidently for two purifiers. This measures approx. 2.4 m by 4.2 m. Close to the apex of its roof is a steel beam with a pulley-runner and with pulley anchorages on the interior faces of the gable walls, for the tackle for lifting and hauling aside the purifier lids. The adjacent yard was evidently the open space for spent lime or oxide from the purifiers to be spread to revive. There were gates shutting off this little yard from the main yard.

The gasholder is shown on the OS map to have been at the SW corner of the Purifier House. The position of the tar collection pit is unknown.

The range of buildings at the S side of the yard may have been used for meters, pumps, and a workers' bothy.

Reason for designation

Listed as a complete set of the buildings of a small country-house gasworks capable of being effectively interpreted and displayed to the public. Listed also for group value with the other survivals of the Stackpole Court buildings.