The Gas Works

MEMORIES OF DONAGHADEE GAS WORKS

Northern Herald, Saturday,13 March 1954
 
 UPS AND DOWNS OF OLD INDUSTRY
  By Noel Williamson
 
I have had the pleasure of studying the first Minute Book of the Donaghadee Gas and Light Co. Ltd., covering the years 1861 to 1902 and I am indebted to Mr. Roberts for the opportunity.
 
The Company held its first meeting in the Market House on the 7th November, 1861 and the first Directors were Daniel Delacherois, John McMinn, John Jamison, Peter Lindsay, Robert Walker, James Duffy, David McMeekan and John Hudson. At this meeting Hugh Norwell’s salary as secretary of the Company was fixed at £20 per annum. It was resolved that a proposal be made to Daniel Delacherois for the plot of ground in Railway Street ,measuring 124ft. 6ins. in the front to the said street, at the yearly rent of 1s 3d per foot and to pay him £50 for the house and building standing on the same ground. A 99year lease was granted on 13th December 1861 but in April 1898, a new lease in petuity was granted and the ground rent fixed at £10.
 
On the 4th December 1861, the Company inserted an advertisement in the “Newsletter” and “Northern Whig” newspapers requesting tenders for buildings, for gas apparatus, for tanks and for boundary walls. The tender of Mr. Barry, Saintfield, for £345, was accepted. The engineering contract was awarded to Messrs. Robertson& Wilson of Glasgow, whose tender of £481 covered gas-making apparatus, main and service pipes.
Thomas McCready, stone mason, was appointed to superintend the building of the works.

Mr Barry did not prove very satisfactory as the directors complained at their meeting on 21st July 1862,that a tank was left in a most unsatisfactory condition and he was required to make it watertight immediately. Mr Barry's reply to this was an immediate demand for payment of balance of contract and threatening proceedings if this was not complied with. The matter was referred to the Company's solicitor. Eventually the company had to employ another contractor to make good the faulty work and more than two years elapsed before Mr Barry's account was finally settled.
 
 
In 1862 the dwelling house on the site was converted for use as a manager's residence, board room and office and the first Board Meeting was held in these premises on 18th May 1863. The first manager was Robert Bullock of Donaghadee, who served the company from 1st January 1867 until 30th September 1871. He commenced with a salary of £40 per annum, paid monthly, with free house, light and coal. He was a busy man; he had to make the gas and look after the plant and do any gas fitting that was required. He carried on without help until August 1863 when he an assistant was appointed. He applied for an imcrease of salary in 1864, but this was not granted and he resigned in December 1864.

Thomas Mark of Donaghadee succeeded him at the same salary, but tendered his resignation in October 1886. A Mr Park was appointed at a salary of £50, free house ,etc. on 25 th September 1871, but he resigned on 29th April 1872. William Aickin of Larne was then appointed on the same terms as his predecessor. he seems to have been a "tippler." At a meeting on 15th October 1872 the manager's resignation was accepted on condition that he behave himself during the month and give up drink.
 
 
John Coulter, at 18s per week with assistance for December and January. In October 1873, his salary was increased to 20s owing to the general satisfaction given. He was in the service of the company until he died on 3rd October 1898. James Wood was the next manager, at a salary of £60,free house, light and coal. He resigned in 1901 and was followed by WJ Woods
 
 
Early in 1862 the first order for 92 gas meters was placed and a further 50 were ordered in August of that year. The public had not a great deal of faith in these meters as numerous complaints are recorded in the minutes. In February 1965 it was resolved to make a charge of one shilling, to be refunded if meter incorrect.
 
 First mention of coal was made in 1862, when the secretary was requested to charter a vessel as small as possible, not exceeding 40 tons. The coal cost 14s 7d per ton delivered in the yard. Gas was sold at 10s per 1,000 cubic feet. By the beginning of 1864 the price of coal had gone up to 17s per ton delivered and consequently the price of gas rose to 5s 10p.
 
  At a meeting of the Directors of 25 April 1865, the secretary was instructed to write the secretary of the Ballast Office, acquainting him that the gas works had been in operation fir two years and offering to supply the lighthouse on the pier with gas light, an underground groove having been made in the quay by the government when it was constructed. Unfortunately there is no mention of the offer having been accepted.
 
 
When discussing the proofs of this article with Mr.Roberts, he remarked that they had had a small wages bill to meet in 1863; today the average weekly wages bill , apart from salaries, amounts to £110. Stokers wages alone come to £54 weekly, while in 1863 the weekly wages bill was 7s 6p for a man who did all the general work besides stoking.
From a mere 100 tons of coal used per year, the consumption is now over the 2,000 ton mark.
In 1913, when Mr. Robert’s father took control of the company, the yearly output of gas was three million cubic feet; today, despite the fact that most houses use electricity for lighting, the output has risen to 25 million cubic feet- and very few of these are the existing ones as laid by the old company- to 1,145 consumers.

This gives local employment to 16 permanent employees and quite a number of casual workers such as coal fillers etc. and indirect employment in N. Ireland repairing meters and general repairing.

It is the proud boast of the present company that they make the highest quality gas in the Province.