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Part of the old Beckton Gasworks

Seen from the newly-built Armada Way, this view looks across part of the site of Beckton Gasworks which was once the largest gasworks in the world. It was built between 1868 and 1870 by the Gas, Light & Coke Company and the name of the works, and subsequently the community which developed to house its workforce, came from Simon Adams Beck, the Governor of the company at the time it was started. At its peak it employed over 5,000 people. Coal gas production was run down with the introduction of North Sea Gas, and ceased at Beckton in the early 1970s. In this view Barking Creek Barrier can be seen towards the left in the distance.