| Description | The Accrington Gas and Water Works Co was formed in 1841. The first gasworks were in Accrington on Hyndburn Road. In 1894 the Accrington District Gas and Water Board was incorporated for the purposes of acquiring the company. The area of supply included Church, Clayton-le-Moors, Great Harwood and Rishton. In 1919 a major scheme of centralisation and reconstruction at additional works in Great Harwood were begun. The Accrington works were largely dismantled though part of the site continued to be used for gas storage. In 1923 a proposed extension to the area of supply to Whalley and Billington led to the purchase of the Whalley Gas Light Co. This company purchased gas in bulk from J Longworth and Sons Ltd, owners of a private gasworks at Judge Walmsley Mill, Billington. The Accrington Board also erected a new holder for the Whalley district. Improvements were made to the main works at Great Harwood and offices and showrooms opened there in 1927. The area of supply was very large and was further extended in 1934 when Wiswell parish was added. Additional coke oven gas was purchased from Altham Colliery Company Ltd in 1928 and coke oven gas continued to supplement the manufactured gas from Great Harwood. This collection contains administrative, financial and estate records. It includes annual reports and accounts, one site plan and a report on the reconstruction of the site (1943). There are no minute books for this undertaking. |