Beckton Gas Works

Beckton Gas Works was a major London gasworks built to manufacture coal gas and other products including coke from coal. It operated from 1870 to 1976, with an associated by-products works that operated from 1879 to 1970. The works were located on East Ham Level, on the north bank of the Thames at Gallions Reach, to the west of Barking Creek. The plant was opened in 1870 by the Gas Light and Coke Company (GLCC). In 1949 Beckton was the largest gas works in the world, capable of producing a total of 119.12 million cubic feet of gas per day. The coal carbonisation plant at Beckton became uncompetitive with North Sea gas and was closed in 1969.