Wellington Gas Company

The gas company's promoters first met in December 1869 inspired by the proposals of local engineer J Rees George, son-in-law of John Martin.

[4][5] Ownership of a small block of shares entitled a domestic consumer to a substantial discount on their gas bill as well as a dividend.

The coal went in automatically from overhead bunkers and stayed in the retort about twelve hours by which time all the gas had been driven out of it and the residue was pure coke or carbon.

Instead, the gas worker operated a few levers, turned a handle, and away came a torrent of incandescent coke falling into an automatic conveyor under a heavy spray of water.

Finally, to remove the sulphur, which comes through from the coal in the shape of sulphuretted hydrogen, the gas was pumped through water containing quantities of red oxide of iron.

[4] Activities included the manufacture of cookers, bath heaters, washing coppers, arc lamps, gas fires, circulators, toasters etc.