Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Procter
My Auntie Annie and Uncle Jimmy had gas-lamps in their house at 118 High Street Rishton around 1950. The bracket hung from the centre of the ceiling in much the same way as a modern electric one.The difference was that on the end was a white gas mantle which was lit with a taper from the coal fire .On the bracket was a steel bar with a ring pull chain on each end. If you pulled one chain the gas would flow into the mantle. Pull the other one and the gas supply stopped. The light given off was very poor and the mantle popped all the time particularly if the gas pressure was low.More gas could be obtained by putting a penny in the meter under the stairs.
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My Grandma Ashton in Clayton still had gas lighting as late as 1949. I remember the wall mounted lights, upstairs in the back bedroom. As a four year old I was fascinated by them, the hissing and my gran lighting them with a taper. And I remember the penny meters too. We've come a long way. I just hope that we headed in the right direction.
