Street gas lightsIn 1807, London's Pall Mall became the first street of any city to be illuminated by gaslight. By 1823 nearly 40,000 lamps had been installed in 215 miles of London streets. Earlier, in 1804, Frederick Albert Windsor, a German entrepreneur, demonstrated and lectured on gas light at the Lyceum Theatre in London. His main interest in gas was for street lighting. Windsor acquired a house in Pall Mall, London and on 4 Jun 1807, the King's birthday, he exhibited lights and a gas-lit transparency along the walls. In 1809-10, Windsor established the first public gas company, The Gas Light and Coke Company, which remained in existence until the company was nationalized in 1948. Other British cities followed London's lead, and installed gas street lamps. For example, Glasgow, Scotland, lit their first on 5 Sep 1818. |
