Firefighters tackle a blaze at Grantham Gasworks in 1955. By the mid 1950s it was redundant and only the gasometers down Gas Works Lane, off Harlaxton Road, remained until they too were demolished in 1959.
The Grantham Gas, Light & Coke Company was established in 1833 on the canal bank.The object of the company was to manufacture and produce inflammable air or gas from coal, oil or other materials for the express purpose of supplying the town of Grantham.The location was ideal for the movement of coal from the Nottinghamshire coalfields via the canal and later the Old Wharf Road railway sidings. The canal water proved a useful source for process & cooling water.Apart from the Gas Works there were several coal merchants and these included J Gibson & Co, H Bowman & Co, WA Garton & Burton’s
Most of the demolished buildings ended up filling the canal.