Friday, 28 August 2020

Gas in Jersey - Part 3

Mid-Victorian street lamps; two of the many types in use.
The last street lamp using gas in Jersey was extinguished 17 September 1970 













Continuing with a "A Brief History Of The Jersey Gas Company" compiled by Roger Long from research by Robin S Cox and Rene H Le Vaillant.

The town had grown a great deal by this time and in September 1836 Edge bought more land to the west of his gas works on which he erected coal stores.

In May 1838. as a result of what were described as “injudicious" arrangements with Edge, the street lighting ceased. The lighting always did cease during the four summer months and for the four nights of the full moon. but an atmosphere had developed between Edge and the consumers such that this termination of street lighting was considered to be Edge’: fault. High prices and poor quality gas led to dissatisfaction and on 18th June 1839 a meeting was held to force a reduction in the price of the gas or to see the setting up of a rival organisation.

The founders of the new St Heller's Union Gaslight Company informed Mr Edge that, unless the price was reduced, many shop proprietors would cease to use his gas as from 1st July 1839. No reduction was forthcoming and several consumers did return to using oil or candles. In August 1839, however. Thomas Edge announced that with effect from the previous 1st June he had reduced the price of gas from 15s 0d a thousand cubic feet to 12s 6d for private consumers, and to 12s 0d for commercial users.

The year 1844 was one of financial depression during which the consumers objected, for a second time, to the high prices of gas and fittings. Clement Perchard, one of the protesters in 1839, who had now replaced Peckston as the local Manager, announced to the proposers of yet another rival company that the price of gas would be reduced to 10s 0d a thousand cubic feet as from the following 29th March.

The growth of the town and the second attempt to form a rival company caused Thomas Edge to become very much more active locally. Between 1845 and 1852 he bought more land to the west of his coal stores and six houses in Bath Street which include the offices of the present Company.

Agreement was reached with the parochial authorities of St Saviour for street lighting as far as the church, which was inaugurated on l6th March 1850. And negotiations began with the three parishes involved in the lighting of the road to St Aubin.

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