Gas holder at former Rochdale Gasworks dismantled

Date published: 23 March 2015

The first stage in taking down two of the three gas holders at the former Rochdale Gasworks close to Rochdale town centre is at the half way stage with one of the gas holders now down.

The second will be down by July 2015. Plans to remove the third gas holder will be firmed up at a later date.

Gas holder at former Rochdale Gasworks dismantled

One of the remaining gas holders still to be dismantled

The site and surrounding area has a rich history in securing Rochdale’s gas supply. The gas holders once formed part of the expansive Rochdale Gasworks, opened in 1824 and the catalyst for lighting up the town’s streets with gas lamps.

As demand for gas increased, so too did the site. The two gas holders being dismantled were built in 1949 and 1954 and replaced previous, smaller holders on the site in a bid to cope with anticipated post-war demand.

Rochdale Gasworks in 1946

Today, gas holders are no longer needed due to investments made to improve the national network, meaning gas can be stored in the pipe system or underground. The gas holders in Rochdale have not been used since 2013.