Watermans Park occupies the site of what was once part of the Brentford Gas Works with the foreshore used for delivery of coal by barges. In 1820 an engineering firm Messrs J & G Barlow secured a contract to light the turnpike road between Kensington and Hounslow (hoping to deter highwaymen along the road) and acquired a quarter of an acre of land (1000 sqm) with 115ft (35m) of riverside in Brentford for their works. This was to become one of the very first gas works in the world.
On Wednesday 15 February 2023 David Shailes gave a talk for the Friends on the Brentford Gas Co and Brentford Gas Works - 1820 to 1988 at Studio Flox. David is a local historian whose posters in Brentford, mostly along the High Street, in May 2022 as part of History Month were much appreciated.
Here are David's slides: