| Description | The first meeting of subscribers to the Warrington Gas Light and Coke Company took place at the Nag's Head Pub, Warrington on the 14th December 1820 (see BG1/WRC/A/A/1 for the rules and regulations passed by this meeting) at which a 'Deed of Partnership' and 'Articles of Agreement' were drawn up. In 1821 Barlow Brothers completed the building of the first Warrington public gas works at Longford, Warrington. In 1822 a Bill was promoted in Parliament intended to raise further capital for the company, limit the liability of the subscribers and extend the scope of the company to include the parishes of Latchford and Appleton. The Bill became an AoP on 15 May 1822. A further AoP was passed in 1847 allowing the company to raise more capital and extend its scope to the parishes of Grappenhall, Winwick, Great Sankey and Burton Wood. By 1870 the Longford site had been extended and remodelled to include an additional retort house and four telescope gasholders. A third AoP, promoted to raise further capital was passed on 16 June 1871 and the works were remodelled again in 1879. Municipalisation took place in 1877 when the Warrington Gas Light and Coke Company was absorbed into the Warrington Corporation Gas Department. On nationalisation in 1949 the undertaking vested in the North West Gas Board. This collection contains administrative records including a series of annual reports and accounts; property records with plans, technical drawings and building records; financial, legal and technical records. There is a good series of mains sketch books. |