The Industrial Heart of Portslade: Brighton 'A' Gas Works

The Industrial Heart of Portslade: Brighton 'A' Gas Works

The Portslade Gas Works (officially Brighton 'A') was the economic bedrock of the community for over a century. At its peak in 1926, the complex spanned 40 acres, strategically positioned between the Aldrington Canal and the sea for efficient coal delivery.

Evolution & Operations

• Genesis (1870): Operations began to meet the booming energy demands of Brighton and Hove.

• Technical Milestones: By 1895, the site was a pioneer in using "water gas" sets, producing 750,000 cubic feet per day.

• Peak Production: Reached a staggering 65 million cubic feet per day before the arrival of North Sea gas led to its decline.

• Closure (1971): Gas production ceased on 22 May 1971, resulting in 400 redundancies and leaving behind a significant environmental footprint.

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A Community Forged by Gas: Employment

The Gas Works was not just a factory; it was a social ecosystem. In the 1870s, it provided stable, skilled employment that was highly sought after in the region.

1872–1873 Wage Snapshot

Role	Weekly Wage
Bricklayer / Engine Fitter	£2 pounds – £2, 2 shillings 6 pence
Engine Driver	£1 pound, 4 shillings 6 pence – £1 pound  8 shillings
Stoker / Blacksmith	£1 pound 5 shillings
General Labourer	£1.pound

The Wartime Shift

During the Great War, with nearly 100% of military-age men enlisted, the works employed 150 women and boys. These women performed gruelling physical labour, such as pushing heavy coal bogeys. Their health often suffered; accounts recall their skin turning an "unhealthy yellow" due to constant exposure to sulphur fumes.

It is fascinating how the defence of the Portslade Gas Works mirrors the situation in Lancing. Both were vital pieces of infrastructure that the Luftwaffe actively tried to destroy, and both relied on a mix of professional military and local volunteer "point defence."

The Defence of Portslade Gas Works

While Lancing had the Carriage Works, Portslade had the Gas Works and the Power Station right next to each other. Their defence was multi-layered:

• Roof-Top Gunners: Because the Gas Works sat low by the canal, an anti-aircraft gun and an air raid siren were famously installed on the roof of the Portslade Brewery (the high building in the Old Village). This gave the gunners a "commanding height" to fire down at raiders coming in over the water.

• The "Six Sisters" Blockship: In a desperate measure to prevent a German naval landing or E-boat raid into the canal (which would have destroyed the Gas Works), an old sailing ship called the Six Sisters was intentionally sunk in the canal as a "blockship."

• Bofors and Machine Guns: Much like Lancing, Bofors guns were positioned around the perimeter. There were also sandbagged Light Machine Gun positions overlooking the canal to catch low-flying aircraft attempting to "torpedo" or bomb the gasometers.

The Common Link: "Tip and Run" Raids

The biggest threat to both Lancing and Portslade was the Focke-Wulf 190. These pilots would fly "under the radar" across the Channel, pop up over the coast, drop their bombs, and be gone in seconds.

• May 1943 Raid: This was the most infamous common link. The same wave of raiders that hit the Brighton & Hove Gas Works (causing massive fires) also targeted railway infrastructure.

• The Colliers: Both sites relied on the sea. In July 1940, the collier SS Portslade was sunk by the Luftwaffe, a fate shared by many ships serving the local industrial coast.
  Link to the defence of the Lancing Carriage works

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The Lifeline: 'The Gassie' Ferry

Because the canal acted as a geographical barrier, the council and the Gas Works relied on a fleet of custom-built boats to transport workers.

• Design: These were double-bowed clinker boats, built in the Gas Works' own carpenter’s shop for maximum stability during "fierce squalls" on the canal.

• The Route: The ferry saved workers a long trek around the canal via Hove, providing a direct link to the southern end of Station Road and Church Road.

• Community Use: While primarily for workers, families used the "Gassies" for a penny fare to reach secluded sandy beaches on the seaward side of the works.

• Famous Figures: Ferrymen like Fred Harlott and John Wadey were local heroes; Wadey was credited with saving several children from drowning in the canal.

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Modern Legacy and the "Gassie" Artwork

Today, the physical Gas Works are largely gone, but the site remains a focal point of debate regarding redevelopment and soil contamination.

The Portslade Gassie Sculpture

Located at the corner of Church Road and Wellington Road, a public art piece commemorates the ferry.

• Imagery: A skeletal figure in a rowing boat.

• Current State: Despite its significance, the artwork has suffered from vandalism and neglect, sparking community-led efforts to restore this vital link to Portslade's working-class heritage.

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The Town Hall Connection

While the Gas Works provided the energy, the Portslade Urban District Council (operating from the Town Hall mentioned earlier) managed the rapid urban growth this industry created. Together, they formed the "Centre" of life for generations of Portslade residents.

Next Step: Would you like me to help you create a "Historical Walking Tour" summary that links the Town Hall, the old Gas Works site, and the Gassie sculpture?

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Would you like to hear a Podcast about the rise and fall of the Portslade Gas Industry?
The Gas Works audio Podcast

• The Site Scale: The gasworks covered a massive 40-acre area on the eastern side of Shoreham Harbour.

• The Transition: Operations shifted from coal gas to natural gas in the 1960s, leading to the site's demolition in 1972.
  

• The Current Status: Today, the land is owned by the Shoreham Port Authority and remains under environmental surveillance for historical contamination.