Warwick Gasworks

Start on Albert Street, you can’t miss the two original octagonal gas holders and the joining building. The gas holders were original separated with an entrance in the middle leading to the retort house in the main yard behind. In 1905, a single-story office block was erected between the gas holders, which was then extended to two stories in the 1970s, this is what you see today.

Notice the windows with their pointed arched glazing bars set in double arched panels. Can you spot the blue plaque?

There is a small building to the right of the gas holders, which was a later additional to the works. We are not sure what its purpose was; however, it was constructed between 1851-1877.

Head around the corner onto Albert Street, then take your first left onto Albert Court. This will lead you to the back of the gas holders, where you will see their brick face.

The scars in the brickwork display the outline of the original buildings attached to each gas holder when they were separated. The gap in the cornice at the centre indicates the later extension when the gas holders were joined by one building.

There is no trace of the original Saltisford basin terminus, which would have existed opposite the gas holders where Eyffler Close stands today. However, if you walk north up the Saltisford Road and turn left just before the overhead railway bridge, you will see the surviving bridge that marked the entrance to the original basin. Stand on the wall to your left and lean over for a view of the arch where the canal travelled through.

This explains the choice of site for the gasworks due to its proximity to where the Warwick & Birmingham Canal terminated, it was an easy way to access transported coal. A dedicated tramway was constructed later on behind the gasworks that linked up to the main railway line. This replaced the canal as the principal method of receiving coal.