I WAS interested to read of the development of the old gasworks site on College Road. I was born and raised in Glasney and my late father, Fred, worked in the gasworks in the late 40s early 50s.
He worked with Reggie Wood who lived in the houses on College Hill. They dug a new retort to increase capacity and came across human remains, which were identified as probably being monks from Glasney College as the gasworks site was an old chapel. The development may find more interesting artefacts as they dig foundations.
Mr Hutt, the chemist, collected coal tar for his pharmacy and Dutchmen on ships at the quay always brought up the coal tar in barrels. Another by-product, coke, was used in domestic fires. The works were owned by a Welshman prior to nationalisation.
I cannot vouch for all this information as I am recalling some of my father's stories but one artefact of the works still remains. In the garden path of number 3 Glasney Place can be found an iron gas pipe. The place it entered the house can be seen just outside the back door where it was cut off. My father and his friend installed this over a weekend to supply my grandmother with gas. Admittedly she only had a gas ring, but it was free! Another example of the ingenuity of a Penryner!
Mike Chamberlain, Tavistock
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