Gas in Jersey - Part 4

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. 

A NEW START

In his English affairs Thomas Edge became bankrupt and on 30th September 1850 a receiver sold the St Helier gasworks to local trustees. This led to the formation of the Jersey Gas Light Company, of which Elias Néel Junior was elected President, George Heller Horman Vice-President, and John Gibaut Secretary. The other directors were Charles Fixott, Matthew Gallichan. George Gaudin and Thomas Anthoine; Clement Perchard was appointed Manager.

Local ownership resulted in a new confidence in gas and it at last became fashionable as a form of lighting in domestic properties. The Royal Court was lit and heated by gas and the newly-erected Victoria and Albert Piers were lit in 1857, the Markets in 1858 and the old Public Library in 1859. Extensions to the system were laid to Petit Bagot, Millbrook, St Lawrence's Valley and to Augrés.

Clement Perchard, the Manager, died in 1860 and on 23rd August the President. Elias Néel was appointed President and Manager. Subsequently a new hostility developed between the Company and the consumers and for the third time a rival gas company was promoted. During Clement Perchard's management the price had been reduced to 6s 6d a thousand cubic feet and the suggestion of a new company caused the directorate to drop the price to 6s 0d a thousand cubic feet. This was not good enough for the consumer who, by further agitation, obtained an instant reduction to 5s 0d.

As a result of this episode the duties of President and Manager were separated and Joseph Morris was brought from Guernsey to run the Company in December 1862.

In January 186l the Company bought more adjoining land on which to extend the works, in order to cater for the increased consumption created by the inauguration, on 24th June 1864, of the gas supply to St Aubin. In March 1867 the Company purchased the last house in Campbell Place (now 109 Bath Street) making them owners of the whole of the site between Gas Lane and Gas Place.

There followed a period of comparative stability and steady progress. A new office and the Company's first showrooms were opened on 31st May 1880, on the site of the present showrooms. This satisfactory situation did not prevent the Board keeping a wary eye on developments in other fields: “The question of electricity has been constantly under the attention of your Board, but its progress has not created any anxiety in their minds.”

Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrations were enhanced by the erection of 63,825 jets in ‘designs’ on a number of public and private buildings.

Harry Morris, a future manager, was appointed assistant to his father Joseph in September 1895. The following year the Board and shareholders presented Mr Morris Senior with an elaborate épergne mounted on a massive plinth of silver, suitably inscribed, in recognition of 34 years of service as Engineer and Manager.

A less cordial note was struck at about this time by the consumers in St Aubin, who petitioned the Company - unavailingly for a reduction in the price of gas from 3s 6d per 1000 cubic feet to 3s 0d as paid by Town consumers.

November 1893 saw the first mention of Mr Charles Robin's property in Tunnell Street, the site of the present works, and its purchase was completed by the following February. Substantial increases in output, which had quadrupled between 1862 and 1895, led to the decision to expand into larger premises, as a result of which construction of a completely new works on the Tunnell Street meadow was begun. It was reported during 1897 that progress on the new retort house was slower than expected and the first charging of the retorts was delayed until December 1899. Continued problems were encountered and it was February 1902 before the retorts in the old works could be finally shut down.