GASWORKS COME DOWN
LANDMARK TO STAY BUT DERELICT GAS HOLDERS WILL BE TORN DOWN
NATIONAL Grid is about to dismantle Salford’s famous derelict gas holders. The metal giants have been part of the Salford skyline for 100 years and were made famous by singer Ewan MacColl in his song Dirty Old Town.
EWAN MacColl knew it well.
His ode to Salford, Dirty Old Town, opens with the lyric: “I met my love by the gasworks wall/Dreamed a dream by the old canal.”
Now the city’s rusting gasworks are to be demolished, but the famous wall will be retained – and could become as famous as Salford Lads Club as a tourist attraction.
National Grid is about to dismantle derelict gas holders, but the wall around the site in Ordsall, which MacColl sang of, will stay.
The metal giants have been part of the Salford skyline for 100 years.
Brutal as they appear, as well as MacColl, they have inspired more recent artists. Both Caroline Johnson and Stephen Campbell have produced paintings of the works, which loom next to West Egerton Street at the junctions with Liverpool Street, Regent Road, and Albion Way.
A painting by Campbell of the gasworks was recently sold by Clark Art of Hale for £1,950.
Now a relic of the city’s industrial past, the site is bounded by a dual carriageway at the entrance to the motorway network.
MacColl wrote different versions of Dirty Old Town. In another, the opening lyric is: “I found my love by the gasworks croft.” The croft was a piece of land next to the gasworks.
The song was recorded by many others, including The Pogues in 1985, Rod Stewart and The Dubliners.
Salford mayor Paul Dennett said: “I’m pleased National Grid recognises the importance of the wall in Salford’s cultural history. They have agreed to work with community groups to see how the wall can be celebrated.”
A future use for the site has yet to be identified.
Chris Taylor, land regeneration manager at National Grid, said: “Improvements in technology mean gas holders are no longer needed and we have been dismantling structures across the country to pave the way for future regeneration.
“The structures at Liverpool Street in Salford haven’t stored gas for several years and we’re currently agreeing the method of dismantling them with the local authority. Our work will put in place measures to protect our nearest neighbours from any disturbance and will include keeping detailed records of the structures for the history books.
“We haven’t confirmed a date for the work to start, but when we do we will work closely with the local communities to make sure we leave a positive lasting legacy in Salford.”