WHAT:
Building Lit by Gas
WHERE:
Cross Street, Redruth, Cornwall, UK, TR15 2BU
LOCATION:
WHEN:
First Tested in 1792
WHO:
William Murdoch
DETAILS:
William Murdoch was an engineering pioneer, best known for his groundbreaking work in steam power and gas lighting during the Industrial Revolution. While contributing to the development of steam engines that powered Cornish mining, Murdoch also explored alternative lighting methods.
Murdoch began experimenting with piped gas as early as 1792 and by 1794, he had set up a large retort behind his house on Cross Street in Redruth, where he distilled coal gas and piped it into his living room. This made his home the first in the world to be lit by piped gas. Murdoch didn’t stop there, as he went on to scale his innovation to illuminate entire factories, extending working hours and contributing significantly to the momentum of the Industrial Revolution. His pioneering efforts laid the foundation for the modern gas industry, and his invention of practical gas illumination quickly spread from Redruth to the rest of the world.
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