The gasworks were in existence prior 1868 and operated by the Briton Ferry Gas Company. Also, in the news in 1869” THE BRITON FERRY GAS WORKS —We understand that a reduction in the price per 1,000 feet has been made by the above company a reduction of another kind has, however, lately taken place in this town. We refer to the wretchedly reduced light supplied to the consumers indoors, as well as to the public streetlamps. The matter, it is stated, will soon be altered for the best, as the new company will shortly come into possession of the works now in charge of the old company. Public expectations are at present very high in reference to the future doings of the new proprietors, and the benefits likely to result. (The Brecon County Times Neath Gazette and General Advertiser for the Counties 25th December 1869.) This suggests the old company had been in existence for some time. The new company was reported to have been called the “Briton Ferry Gas and Coke Consumers Company (Limited)” in the Monmouthshire Merlin 2nd December 1865. The gasworks was sold to the Briton Ferry Local Board c1873 (The Cambrian 16th November 1877). This was following a Special Act of 1873. In 1883 The Briton Ferry Local Board Gas Dept, had authorised loans of £20,000, in 1881 it had produced 5.5m cu.ft. of 17 cp gas. (The Cardiff Times 20th January 1883).

As to the gasworks themselves, there is not a great deal to be said. When Mr. Mogford went to Briton Ferry twenty years ago, he found himself faced with the familiar uphill fight of a small works over. capitalized, which had been allowed to get into a bad state and was losing about £800 a year. The make of gas 8 m cu.ft.. per annum. This was a situation which he immediately set about to alter. For one thing, he introduced free installations, and arranged exhibitions and demonstrations. The gas output last year being between 38 and 39 m cu.ft.. There are four beds of six retorts, with shallow generators; and the make has in the twenty years gone up from 9000 cu.ft. to 11,500 cu.ft. per ton of through local coal. The exhausters are not direct-coupled, but driven by a gas-engine off shafting, which is also used to drive the rotary scrubber and all the pumps. This has been the method adopted for many years; and with this drive, and the retort-house governor, no difficulty is ever experienced. As a stand-by, an electric motor is provided; and in the same house there is another gas-engine which is used for running a mortar mill. All the pan breeze produced is utilized for mortar for the Council and anybody else who requires it. Of the two holders, one (by Messrs. W. C. Holmes & Co.) is spiral-guided and contains 280,000 cu.ft. while the capacity of the other is 75,000 cu.ft. (JGL 6/10/1908). In 1915 the annual gas production 36m cu.ft. of 16cp gas (14 prescribed) from 3,600 tons of coal.1,250 slot consumers, 450 credit consumers, 1,350 stoves in use and 210 incandescent streetlamps. 16 miles of main and two holders. J. Mogford, Engineer, Manager & Secretary. No railway into works. In 1922 the Briton Ferry UDC was absorbed by the Borough of Neath, and with it the Council's Gas Department. A trunk main was laid from Neath to Briton Ferry and the Briton Ferry gas works closed in 1924. On vesting in 1949, most of the site was conveyed by Wales Gas Board to Neath Corporation, the Ground Rent being apportioned £34 from Neath Corporation and £22 from Wales Gas Board. Vested in the Wales Gas Board from Neath Corporation In 1986 the site was empty and disused apart from a small compound housing District Regulators. The two holders had been demolished for some time. The first site smaller and in south. Expanded to the north by 1914 and original site redeveloped for residential use c.1938. The gasworks were visible on the 1882 to 1980 OS maps.