Gas and Electricity Department

Bonds, contracts, correspondence, reports, law papers, shareholding records and miscellanea, mainly of the Glasgow Gas Light Co, 1817 - 1870; Gas works plans, including plans of Maybole gasworks, 1833, 1833 - c1943 and undated; Production reports on Provan, Dawsholm and Tradeston Gas Works, 1912 - 1938; Correspondence, technical papers, committee papers and plans, 1873 - 1949 and undated; Contracts, 1905 - 1946; Reports and accounts, 1900 - 1913; Gas Committee minutes, 1946 - 1949.

D-GE1-46 Administration, 1817 - 1860;

D-GE47-58 Parliamentary Papers, 1819 - c1857;

D-GE59-68 Plant & Products, 1818 - 1852;

D-GE69-98 Property, 1818 - 1841;

D-GE99-180 Legal Papers, 1829 - 1874;

D-GE181-192 Glasgow Gas Light Company Shareholdings, 1838 - 1870;

D-GE193-208 Production of Gas, 1912 - 1938;

D-GE209-215 Technical Papers and Plans, c1922 - 1941;

D-GE216-257 Drawings and Plans, 1916 - 1944;

D-GE258-267 Steel Orders, 1920 - 1928;

D-GE268 Conveyances, 1870 - 1946;

D-GE269-272 Contracts, 1914 - 1949;

D-GE273-278 General Papers, 1891 - 1948;

D-GE279-283 Electricity Department, 1893 - 1923;

D-GE284-290 Additional Gas Works Plans, 1833 - c1950

A Glasgow Gas-Light Company was formed by Act of Parliament in 1817 (57 Geo. III, c.41). It was highly profitable, but was regarded by consumers as abusing its monopoly position. A rival City and Suburban Gas Company of Glasgow was formed in 1843 (6 & 7 Vict., c.58), but complaints over price levels continued, and in 1869 the Glasgow Corporation Gas Act municipalised both companies (32 & 33 Vict., c.58).

Thereafter the works were greatly extended and the level of production increased. Electric lighting was under consideration for much of the 1880s, but the necessary powers were only obtained by a Provisional Order in 1890 (Electric Lighting Orders Confirmation Act (No.14) 1890, 53 & 54 Vict., c.199). The new enterprise was entrusted to the Gas Commissioners. With technical advice from Lord Kelvin they drew up a scheme which led to the inauguration of electric street lighting in the city centre in February 1893. The commissioners’ minutes refer to them as the Gas Committee, or from 1891 the Committee on Gas Supply and Electric Lighting. Minutes from 1895 to 1897 are of this committee, and thereafter of separate committees on Electricity and on Gas Supply. The commission was transferred to the Corporation in 1895 (Glasgow Corporation and Police Act 1895, 58 & 59 Vict., c.143). A separate Electricity Department was set up in 1897.

In May 1949 the Scottish Gas Board took over the functions and assets of the Gas Department (Gas Act 1948, 11 & 12 Geo. VI, c.67).

In April 1948 the British Electricity Authority, operating through the South West Scotland Electricity Board, took over the functions and assets of the Electricity Department (Electricity Act 1947, 10 & 11 Geo.VI, c.54).

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Descriptive list available at Glasgow City Archives (some uncatalogued material).

Application for reproduction should be made to the Archivist.

Glasgow City Archives, D-TC15/5, Gas and Electricity Department press-cuttings