.. The Gas Holder, at one time a Cwmbran `Landmark` ..

.. Woodside Road - Forgehammer ..

.. February 2007 ..

.. Dismantled December 2002 ..

John Berry relates:- I started my working life (1952) as an apprentice Gas Fitter/Engineer with Wales Gas and for two years, I reported every day at the Cwmbran Holder Station to the only Gas Fitter covering the area. He was Baden Roden, better known to everyone as JIM the gas, he lived with his wife Greta at the rear of the Gas shop that was on the corner of Richmond Rd. Pontnewydd, it is now a block of flats.

 

The Forge Hammer holder station at that time was derelict but there was some very interesting old overhead belt operated machinery left standing in the old engineering workshops. We used one room for the storage of Gas Meters and fittings etc.

There was a shop on the opposite corner to the Gas Works Gates I think this was owned by a Mr Gibbons??

 

Later as the New Town developed the gas supplies in the area had to be improved, as a result more Service Engineers and Distribution staff worked from this depot. The site was refurbished and a new gas house was built next to the bridge. The house was occupied by Jim Lewis who moved from Taunton to take up the position of Foreman at the Panteg Gas Works site,

 

In those days control of the gas holder was manual and twice a day it was necessary for the Gas Controller at Panteg Gas works to be contacted, for instructions to open or close the valve that controlled the gas supply into the holder.  That was how it went up & down and I recall it always had to be in a high position for Sunday. I took my turn with this but it became the responsibility of Jim Lewis. 

The Maker's Plate .. dated 1939