Hereford Times - 12th March 1853

Anxious to compete with neighbouring towns in their nightly illuminations, no effort has been wanted on the part of the spirited inhabitants to accomplish the object. A meeting having been called, shares were taken, a committee was formed, arrangements were made, contractors agreed with, and men of science employed; the work was commenced and completed notwithstanding the many obstacles incident upon such an undertaking. Now the streets, shops, inns, mansions, church, and chapels are brilliantly illuminated by gas, to the credit of the contractor, Mr. Eunson, and we trust to The benefit of all parties connected therewith. Mr. J. Edwards, of Montgomery, who took an active part is the fittings, is appointed conductor thereof.

J. DAVIES, High-street, Knighton, March, 1853.

 

Hereford Times - 21st July 1855

KNIGHTON GAS-LIGHT, COAL, AND COKE COMPANY.

EDWARD WEYMAN - begs to return most heartfelt thanks to the Shareholders who kindly Voted on his behalf at the Meeting held on Saturday last and to tender to his successful Competitor, and those who were honourably opposed to him, the right-hand of Friendship.- Knighton, July 16,1855

 

Liverpool Mercury 10th September 1858

Wanted, an experienced Gasmaker, who also understands gasfitting in all its branches. Address to the manager of the Knighton Gas Company, Radnorshire, stating terms and qualifications.

 

On 20th November 1858 Mr John Baker, of Hereford, was unanimously appointed Gas Manager at Knighton, following the death of  John Edwards in August.

 

Hereford Journal - 4th January 1860

Gas Company:-

Mr. John Baker - Manager

Mr. W W Archibald - Chairman

Mr. W Collins - Clerk

 

John Baker died in early February 1861 aged 42. He left a widow and seven children. He was a member of the Radnorshire Friendly Society. Upon his death the Society immediately handed his sick-pay and the burial fee of £7 to his widow. Members of the Knighton branch of the Society bore his body to its last resting-place. John was buried on 17th February 1861.

 

Later in 1861 the role of the Manager of the Gasworks was given to 28 year old Thomas Weaver. He took up residence  in the Gas House at Teme Green with his wife Sarah and his 2 sons Horace and Albert.

 

Hereford Times - 25th May 1861

GAS AND WATER.— We hear many complaints of the gas company on our water supply, their extravagant requirements depriving us of that quantity which nature and cleanliness absolutely demands. We would once more appeal to their generosity, and sense of right, in order that the parishioners may not be driven to try conclusions with them on this, to them, a most vital question. We do trust that our poor, to which the supply (meagre as it has been) was a boon, will not be deprived of that means of cleanliness and health. An unwise economy has induced our seers to dismiss a man whose business it was to attend to the tank and its Sunday intricacies. Since that period the management has been such as to evoke continual complaints from the public, who have to bear the inconvenience of every mistake. Surely some remedy for this state of things is possible. By self-government the people could speedily rectify this anomalous state of things. The supply has been most irregular, and it needs no Socrates to tell us that Health cannot continue where the supply of the invaluable fluid is absent or even scanty. We beg the attention of our local sanitary reformers to this hiatus, confident that they will bestow their serious attention to the absolute necessity for immediate steps being taken to remedy the evil. In one part of the day the lower part of the town is favoured with a small supply of water, but the upper is for the greater part of the time utterly destitute of it, and the results of such a deprivation may be better imagined than described.

 

Hereford Times 22nd June 1861

KNIGHTON.-THE DEFICIENT SUPPLY OF WATER. - A correspondent writes :— We regret to find, with regard to the complaint of the deficient water supply, that no address has been given, or any kind of notice taken, the Gas Company monopolizing the water, to the great grievance of the inhabitants. The poorer classes, about some parts of the top of the town, are loud in their complaints at having to pay a rate they can ill afford, for only at one part of the day, when there is a scramble (and consequently constant brawling), can they get their necessary supply. It is very easy for well-to-do people to exclaim at the dirty condition of the homes and persons of the labouring poor, but it sounds rather inconsistent, when they deprive them of the essential element which enables them to make their ablutions.

 

Hereford Journal 15 August 1863

THE GAS COMPANY.--The eleventh annual ordinary general meeting of the shareholders was held on Friday, at the Company's office, Mr. W. W. Archibald in the chair. The following report was presented :—The directors have much satisfaction in being able to congratulate the shareholders on the improving position of the company during the past year, and they now feel justified in recommending that a dividend of 5 per cent. be declared, payable on the 1st of September next. The balance of assets and liabilities of the past year amount to £270 2s. 31d., out of which the directors have transferred the sum of £136 3s. 83/4d., due to capital account, which was placed to that account from a previous want of funds, thus reducing the capital. account to the original amount of £2000. After setting aside £50 for payment of the next dividend, the balance in favour of the Company will be £83 18s. 1d. The following directors, Mr. R. Green Price, and Mr. Walter Jones, retire from office at the present meeting, but are eligible for re-election, Mr. Edward Mason, and Mr. William Edwards retire from the office of auditors, but are eligible for re-election. Mr. Johnson moved the adoption of the report, and that the dividend in accordance therewith, be now declared. Mr. E P. Ayres seconded the motion, and the report was adopted unanimously. Mr. Peters proposed the re-election of Mr. Green Price as a director, also, that the Rev. Thomas Green of Stowe, be appointed a director, his residence being now at an easy distance, to enable him to attend the meetings. Mr. Banks seconded the proposition, which was agreed to unanimously. The re-election of Mr. Mason and Mr. Edwards, as auditors, terminated the proceedings.

 

On 4th December 1875, William Wilson Archibald who had held  the post of chairman died. He was then aged 78. He was buried in Knighton cemetery on 8th December 1875. At the time of his death he was living in Cheltenham.

 

Eddowes's Journal - 20th August 1879

Public Lamps: The Surveyor reported that three new public lamps wore required—one in the Cwm and two in Child's-alley. The Board considered the present price paid for lighting was excessive, and resolved that application be made to the Gas Company for a reduction, the question of new lamps to stand over for the present. One of the lamps in Bridge-street having been knocked down by a team belonging to Mr. Hamer, Cwmgilla, it was ordered that the same be replaced, and Mr Hamer charged with the expense.

 

Eddowes's Journal, - 21st April 1880

Public Lamp - The Clerk stated that he had sent in the account of the lamp broken by Mr. R. Hamer's waggoner to Mr. Hamer, and Mr Hamer asked for a reduction on account of the lamp being in an exposed position. The Board declined to reduce the amount.

 

South Wales Daily News - 31st December 1880

THE FLOODS - The largest flood which has been known for years was experienced at Knighton on Wednesdays Rain commenced to fall on Tuesday . night, and continued without intermission during, the greater part of the .following day, entirely washing away the heavy snow which fell on Sunday night. The river rose with a rapidity which was alarming, entirely submerging the majority of the fields adjoining it.

       At Mill Green the water entered the houses, and forced the inhabitants to take refuge upstairs. One man on going home found his wife upstairs, and as the water continued to rise, they were forced to take the pig from the pigsty and carry it upstairs to save it from being drowned. The mail train:, which arrives at Knighton at 8.20 p.m., was stopped by Dove's Ballast Hole for a time, and a bridge on the line at Panpunton had to be watched by the company's servants for fear of its being washed away, the water at one time on some parts of the line being as high as the carriage steps. 

       At the Central Wales Railway Inn the water rose higher than the kitchen windows, flooded the kitchen, and several persons were kept at work bailing out the water for a long time. The gas works were flooded, and the town was thus left in darkness. The waster has since rapidly lowered, and is still on the decrease.

 

By 1881 36 year old Amos Perry was the Gas Manager. He and his family were living in Station Road, whether he was living at the Gas Works is not known.

 

The Gas Stoker was 28 year old George E Davies, living in Church Lane

 

Eddowes's Journal - 25th March 1885

KNIGHTON.

LOCAL BOARD, Wednesday :—The clerk reported the Lighting Committee had consulted with the directors of the Gas Company as to the charge made for public lighting, and the following offer had since been made by the company :— Metres to be placed at three lamps — one at the top of the town, one in the middle of the town, and one at the bottom of the town, and the Board be charged for each lamp on the average of the three metres, and at the rate of 4s. 6d. per 1,000 feet of gas, and also the expense of lighting and cleaning. This offer to be considered at a larger meeting of the Board.

 

Eddowes's Journal - 1st July 1885

Local Board.—A special meeting was held on Wednesday night, present—Messrs. Brown, Clee, Deacon, Oldbury, Jones, and J. P. Davies (presiding).—Public Lighting: The offer of the Gas Company relating to this, was carefully considered, and it was resolved that the company's offer be accepted, providing the charge for cleaning and lighting the lamps be included in the charge of 4s. 5d. per thousand feet. It being understood by the Board that the test meters be left on the lamps and used for determining the consumption from year to year, and not for one year only.—It was farther resolved that in future the lamps be lighted from the 1st of September to the 1st of May inclusive

 

Eddowes's Journal - 20th June 1888

Public Lighting : The Clerk reported that the Gas Company would light the public lamps from the night before August fair to 11th September for 2s. 6d. per lamp.—Resolved that the 'company's offer be accepted.—Surveyor's Report: The Surveyor reported that one of the public lamps in Station Road has been broken by a horse and trap belonging to Mr. Murdoch, of Jenkinallis.—The Board ordered the lamp to be re-erected, and the expense charged to Mr. Murdoch

 

1891

Amos Perry, age 45, Gasworks Manager - Station Road

Charles Jones, age 47, Gas Stoker - Collins Buildings

​

Bromyard News - 11 May 1899

KNIGHTON

An explosion of gas occurred on Friday while Mr. Perry, the Gas Company's manager, and his assistant were repairing pipes at a home in West Street. While searching for and escape, the men came across an accumulation  of gas, which exploded, knocking both men down. Mr. Perry sustained injuries to his face and arms.

 

1901

Amos Perry, age 56, Gasworks Manager - Station Road

William W McLeod, age 28, Gas Fitting Engineer - Factory Green

Duncan Campbell, age 21, Gas Fitting Engineer - Factory Green

W H Morgan, age 23, Gas Fitter - Station Road

Christopher Webster, age 29, Gas Fitter - Stanage Park

 

Amos Perry and his wife Hanna left Knighton sometime in the following 10 years. They moved to Small Heath, Birmingham where Amos became a shop keeper.

 

1911

George Henry Jackson, age 42, Gasworks Manager - Gas House, Teme Green

William Abley Collins, age 55, Secretary Gasworks - Bryntyrian, Presteigne Road

Henry Jones, age 33, Brass Maker Gas fittings - Market Street

Reginald Jackson, age18, (son of George) Gas Fitter for the Gasworks - Gas House, Teme Green

 

Radnor Express - 7th January 1915

RADNORSHIRE FLOODS - GAS-SUPPLY CUT OFF AT KNIGHTON.

Heavy snow fell in the vicinity of Knighton in the early part of last week, and the main road between Knighton and Presteigne was at one point (near Offa's Dyke) covered to the depth of about 8 inches. A rapid thaw set in on the Wednesday, followed by a continual downpour, and these circumstances caused the river Teme, which divides Radnorshire from Shropshire at Knighton, to overflow its banks in the night, and on Thursday morning the fields, known as Panpunton, near the town, represented a miniature sea.

       Houses in the neighbourhood of the woollen factory, on Mill Green, were surrounded with water, and the inhabitants were compelled to remain in-doors, unless they cared to wade up to their knees in water. Some of them had to do this in order to get a supply of coal in for the morning's fire. In one or two cases the water penetrated into dwellings. The gas-works was soon flooded, and, in consequence, the supply of gas to private houses was immediately cut off.

 

Birmingham Daily Post - 6th March 1915

WANTED.— in small country gas works, a Stoker-Yardman 26s. a week winter, 25s. summer.— The Secretary, Gas Company, Knighton, Radnorshire.

 

Radnor Express 19th August 1915

Who Put the Lights Out?

Knighton Gas Company wrote stating that their agreement with the Council must terminate on May 31st 1916. The company regretted that, owing to the advance in the price of coal, they had found it necessary to take this step, as the present contract was being run at a loss. Mr Allcock; A rise of 5/- per ton in coal ought not to necessitate the breaking of this long-standing agreement with the council. The Surveyor said the lighting was not at all satisfactory. He could not manage the lamp-lighters, and, sometimes, after the lamps had been lighted, some ‘mongrels’ of boys climbed up the posts and put them out (Laughter). It would take all his time if he had to watch them. Mr Edward Griffiths said the lamps were put out too soon. He had noticed, when driving home soon after 10 p.m., that several had been put out and 11 o’clock was the time for it. The clerk said the surveyor must report upon these things, and the police should find out who extinguished the lamps.

 

Radnor Express - 22nd June 1916

The Gas Company had granted a rebate of £30 on the lighting contract, viz., £25, for the period from 'March to June, when the street lamps were not lighted, and £5 for a portion of the preceding period. The council considered the rebate satisfactory.

 

1920

Thomas Davies, Manager

William Abley Collins, age 64,  Secretary Gasworks

 

1923

John Thomas Cartwright, Gasworks Manager

Joseph Stephenson, Secretary Gasworks

 

There is a headstone memorial in St Nicholas, Norton Canon churchyard that says 'Albert Edward Breeze B.E.M.1900-1985 was the last Manager of the Hay-on-Wye, Presteigne and Knighton Gas Works'. Albert was awarded a B.E.M. (British Empire Medal) on 2nd January 1950

 

Sources

Kelly's Directory 1923

The National Archives (TNA) Reference:BT 41/338/1946 (Huge thanks to Dr Jane Cavell)

Various Newspapers as stated.