In late Victorian times it was generally assumed that Hayling Island was about to become an important suburb of Portsmouth. The narrow but fast-flowing entrance to Langstone Harbour would, it was supposed, be bridged and land values on the Island would rise. There was speculation in land and a branch railway was constructed from Havant [...]
GAS WORKS
The Hayling Island Gas Company was established on a site between the railway station and the West Town Hotel. The Contractor was Mr HR Trigg, The Engineer being Mr Henry Skoines’.
The railway brought in coal from the coalfields in Wales, the Midlands and the North East of England to supply the coal yard adjacent to the Gas Works.
The Hayling Island Gas Company was voluntarily wound up in 1937. (Ref. Hants Web Record 19M65 Hampshire Gas and Utility Companies).
An entry in The Times dated 22 Feb 1937 stated that The Portsmouth and Gosport Gas Company were waiting for the Board of Trade Special Order to give effect to the purchase of the Hayling Island Gas Company.
If anyone has any images of the works or background information, I would be pleased to hear from you. Our aim is to record as much as is possible of industry associated with the railway. What I am finding is there are very large gaps in the island records and we seek to close these
The Hayling Island Gas Company was absorbed by the Portsmouth and Gosport Company. Gas was then supplied from Hilsea and piped onto the island.This article from the Evening News, Aug 6 1937, describes the formal handover and the closure of the Gas Works.
The following article appeared in the Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle etc. Portsmouth England), Saturday, July 28, 1877; Issue 4690. Describes how the annual encampment of the 1st Administrative Battalion of the Hampshire Rifle Volunteers were supplied for the first time with gas lighting. The introduction of gas to the island was celebrated on this [...]
