Carlisle's Grand Old Lady of Gas Gets The Once Over

Ropework and aerial acrobatics are the key to helping preserve one of Carlisle’s most unusual landmarks.

A specialist abseiling team has been drafted in to survey the iron framework of the city’s original Victorian gas holder in Rome Street.

The listed structure belongs to Northern Gas Networks and is maintained by United Utilities.

Network officer Ian Ambler, of United Utilities, said the gas holder was the grand old lady of Carlisle’s industrial past, having been built in 1879.

“Originally designed to store gas for the people of the city to use, she was decommissioned in the 1980s after being declared surplus to requirements. The internal container-part of the holder was dismantled and taken away but the supporting framework is the subject of preservation order,” he explained.

The team surveying the holder are more used to working on oil rigs out at sea rather than land-locked heritage landmarks.

Over the course of a week they have scaled the 100ft high structure using vertical ladders, before walking the 8” wide latticed gantry girder at the top and abseiling down each of its 12 wrought iron pillars scrutinising every inch and weld in the minutest detail.

Needless to say, safety is the number one priority. Scaling a structure the size of Carlisle’s oldest gas holder takes all the skill and precautions of climbing Everest. The team employed by United Utilities are experienced climbers equipped with the best climbing gear, which is checked daily before every use.

Carlisle’s is just one of many Northern Gas Networks holders across the North of England being surveyed in this way.

Network Operations Director for Northern Gas Networks, Chris Gorman said the huge structure was a feature of Carlisle’s past and was unusually decorative.

“These climbers are doing a great service and it’s no mean feat. With little between you and the ground but air they need a fairly good head for heights. To give you some idea of the scale each of the finials on top of the 100ft pillars is about a metre high and is made of solid iron.

“The brilliant news is that initial inspections show the holder is in pretty good shape for her age with only very minimal signs of wear and tear. Once we get the full structural report we’ll know how best to look after her for decades to come,” he said.