Gas

To manufacture town gas, it is necessary to have a constant supply of coal which was not possible before the railways were built.

The Croydon to East Grinstead railway line was extended to Lingfield in 1884.

In 1891, consent was given in a provisional order for Godstone and District Company to build Gas Works and supply gas to Lingfield and South Godstone.  (See “Deposited Plans of Public Undertakings” dated 29th November, 1890 and 9th April, 1891).

At a Parish Meeting on 16th June, 1896 it was proposed that “the Clerk write to the Gas Co. for particulars as to cost of erecting, lighting, cleaning, maintaining Gas for say 30 lamps…” .
This document shows a list of public sites in Lingfield (such as “Centre of Plaistow Street, Mr. Farrance’s Passage, School, Town Hill” etc.) where these lamps were to be installed.  To the sites marked with an x (such as “one in Bakers Lane”, “Vicarage Gate” etc.) a gas supply had yet to be laid.

At the Parish Meeting held on 30th June, 1896 the following was decided:  “This Committee has carefully considered the question of lighting the parish and find that about 30 lamps would be required – after ascertaining the price from the Gas Co. viz. £3.15.0 for purchase of each lamp, and a further sum of £3.10.6 per an. for gas lighting and maintaining, we consider the expenses would be too heavy and cannot recommend the council to prepare for the adoption of the Lighting and Watching Act.”

It appears that well after 1900 many houses still used candles and paraffin lamps for lighting:
Extract from Francis Napier “History of Lingfield” – Introduction, page 276: …Mr. Batchelor, grocer, “on the counter are lighted candles and two paraffin lamps – very poor lighting” date 1906/07  (Mr. Batchelor’s grocers’ shop is now the Cage Public House).

Extracts from the Parish Documents:
“Minutes of Parish Meeting 1st February, 1898: … for the purpose of considering the question of adopting all, or any part, of the Lighting Act for the Parish (or part of the Parish) and, in the event of such adoption, to fix the amount of money to be raised under such Act, for the year ending March 25, 1898.  57 voted for the adoption of the Watching and Lighting Act, 22 against.  The Chairman stated that the Act would be adopted subject to the poll being demanded.”

“Minutes of the Parish Meeting held at the Lingfield School Room this day 7th October, 1908:  to consider the question of adopting all or any part of the Lighting and Watching Act for the Parish or part of the Parish and, in the event of such adoption, to fix the amount of money to be raised under such Act for the period ending March 31, 1909.”

 

 

Barbara Chappell
May 2004