Whitburn Bents, gas works

HER Number

12458

District

S Tyneside

Site Name

Whitburn Bents, gas works

Place

Whitburn

Map Sheet

NZ46SW

Class

Industrial

Site Type: Broad

Power Generation Site

Site Type: Specific

Gas Works

General Period

POST MEDIEVAL

Specific Period

Victorian 1837 to 1901

Form of Evidence

Demolished Building

Description

In the mid 19th century a gas works was built by Sir Hedworth Williamson, landowner at Whitburn, Roker and Monkwearmouth. The gas works provided gas lighting for his family house Whitburn Hall (HER 8470). In 1864 Whitburn Hall became the first house in the area to have gas lighting. The gas works were demolished around 1940.

Easting

440760

Northing

561240

Grid Reference

NZ440760561240

Sources

Sunderland City Council, 2007, Whitburn Bents Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Strategy; T. Corfe, 1973, A History of Sunderland; T. Corfe, 1983, The Buildings of Sunderland 1814-1914; G.E. Miller and S.T. Milburn, 1988, Sunderland, River, Town & People; P. O'Brien and P. Gibson, 1997, The Archive Photographs Series: Seaburn and Roker; N. Pevsner, 1983, The Buildings of England: County Durham (second edition revised by Elizabeth Williamson); S. Reeder, 1992, Whitburn and Roker in old picture postcards