Description: Built in 1899. In 1824 Tate invented the telescopic gasometer, similar to the one seen here, which enabled gas works to supply gas at a fairly steady rate regardless of demand. The gasometers had several 'lifts' or tiers, floating in a bath of water. As gas was pumped in, the gasometer would rise and then slowly fall as the gas was used. The tiers initially rose vertically but were later spirally guided. Such gasometers were a common feature in any town, storing the gas produced by heated coal (given the name 'Town Gas'), but these were mostly removed after the arrival of Natural Gas from the North Sea in the late 1960's-early 1970's.