Gasholder No 6, former Bromley-by-Bow gasworks

This gasholder was built between 1879 and 1882 to the design of engineer Vitruvius Wyatt for the Gas Light and Coke Company. It was constructed by Westwood and Wrights, with William Bourne Wright overseeing the actual building work.

The gasholder’s structure is primarily cast-iron with composite wrought and cast-iron girders forming the guide frame. The guide frame is approximately 23 metres high and 62 metres in diameter and comprises two tiers of 24 cast-iron columns connected by horizontal cast and wrought-iron girders, classified as Type 14 in Tucker’s typology of gasholders. Each column sits on a substantial moulded cast-iron pedestal featuring fielded panels and oval plaques. These plaques display the inscriptions “WILLIAM BOURNE WRIGHT/ ENGINEER”, “WESTWOOD & WRIGHTS/ CONTRACTORS”, and the date of completion. The lower columns are designed as Roman Doric columns, complete with moulded bases and capitals. Each column is topped with a junction box resembling an entablature, featuring a Doric frieze with triglyphs beneath a cornice; these cornices are detachable castings that conceal structural connections. The lower girders feature decorative filigree ironwork. The upper tier of columns is in a simplified Corinthian style, each topped with a plain frieze. The columns vary in proportion, following the principles of the classical canon, with the heavier Doric order at the base and a lighter Corinthian order at the top. The upper girders are embellished with an interlocking circle motif. Attached to the interior face of each column are guide rails for wrought-iron roller carriages, which supported the telescopic bell of the gasholder as it raised and lowered in response to gas volume.

According to planning legislation, the bell and tank themselves are not considered to be of special architectural or historic interest. However, any proposed works that could affect the character of the listed building may still require planning permission, at the discretion of the local planning authority.