York Historic Environment Record

Site of gasworks built in 1880-85 by York United Gas Company, and designed by Vitruvius Watt, straddling the River Foss. The structures on the West bank have all been demolished, but the east bank retains one holder and a distillatiion plant. The east bank has recently been redeveloped for mixed residential, office and hotel use. The York Gas Light Company was formed in 1822 and incorporated in 1823. The works were established at Monk Bridge on the river Foss. In 1837 a rival undertaking, The York Union Gas Light Company (MYO3695) was formed and land purchased from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for works at Hungate. The two undertakings continued in competition until 1844 when they amalgamated to form the York United Gas Light Company. In 1850 the Hungate works were closed and extensions made to the Monk Bridge site. In 1879 additional lands were obtained at Heworth Green on the opposite side of the river. The two sites were eventually connected by a bridge. In 1912 the undertaking was reincorporated as the York Gas Company. In 1936, the holding company United Kingdom Gas Corporation obtained a controlling interest in York GC. The company continued to operate as part of UKGC until nationalisation in 1949 when it was vested in the NEGB and became part of the York / Harrogate Group of NEGB (Historic England)