Description and History of Site:-
Textile mills had been reliant on candles for lighting work-spaces prior to the early 1800's often resulting in serious fires within the premises. Gas lighting was pioneered by William Murdoch in the 1790's, even then just consisting of a naked flame issuing from a wall fitting. The first economically practical gas mantle that produced a white light was invented by Welsbach in 1892 consisting of a cotton bag coated with 99% Thorium Dioxide and 1% Cerium Dioxide and became the standard mantle used across the UK and Europe.

Mills had to manufacture their own gas for the lighting and it was manufactured on site in a retort house and stored in a gasometer nearby. The retort process consisted of roasting coal over a fire inside long horizontal airtight ovens which released coal gas into pipes leading to the gasometer. The heated coal was raked out, now called Coke, reused again in the mills boiler-house and also sold into the local area for domestic heating. Once stored in the gasometer the gas was distributed throughout the mill and outbuildings using lead pipes.

Electric lighting eventually made gas lighting and retort houses unnecessary after the end of the 19th century. The old retort house at Woodlands mill, now converted to domestic housing, is a relatively rare survivor but the gasometer was removed several years ago.

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Key Words :- textile mill gas retort

Viewing the Site :- From public road.

Address :- Barrow's Lane, Steeton with Eastburn, Keighley, West Yorkshire
Grid Ref :- SE 03319 44131
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.893346 , Long -1.950982
Local Authority :- City of Bradford
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Site Condition :- Site refurbished to residential housing
Record Date :- 14 October 2023

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Andrew Garford