Site Record

The Ferndale Gas Company dates back to 1875, when their somewhat extensive gasworks were being constructed for the supplying of the town and the district of Ferndale with gas. The works were designed by Mr J. L. Cocker, the eminent gas engineer of Merthyr Tydfil, and were nearly complete in July 1875. The gasworks were located close to the railway, and below the level of the adjacent district. (South Wales Daily News 31st July 1875). In 1878 Mr Lewis David was Chairman, Mr J. Edwards Price Secretary, Mr J. L. Cocker was the Engineer. The gasworks were managed by Mr W. Rankin until his death in 1897, after which his son Richard took over as manager of the gasworks. In February 1907, Mr Joseph Sprague was secretary of the Ferndale Gas Company Ltd, and reported that new purifiers had been installed, however, the surveyor reported that the works lacked sufficient gas storage and this need to be remedied to provide a secure gas supply (The Rhondda Leader 16th February 1907). A Mr Franks was the manager in 1908. The Ferndale Gas Act of 1916 was submitted to provide further powers to the Ferndale Gas Company. The company was trading as the Ferndale Gas Company Limited in 1923. Gasworks marked on the 1900 OS map, original gasholder visible on 1900 and 1921 OS maps, but replaced by a new gasholder on the 1956 OS map but gone by 1983. The records of the Ystrad & Ferndale Gas Company held by the Glamorgan Archives date back to 1868.