NHER 55526 (Monument record) - Site of Acetylene Gas plant

Discovered by NIAS in 1979. Plant used to make acetylene gas for lighting purposes. Plant now at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse Museum. The plant was in a shed set apart from the Rectory as any fire or explosion would have been sufficient to damage the building. The equipment used was a freestanding water-carbide automatic type. It mixed water with calcium carbide to produce acetylene gas. This was stored in a large tank and purified before being pumped into the Rectory for use as illumination. A large iron sign was found on the door to the outbuilding stating "DO NOT SMOKE OR USE A LIGHT IN ACETYLENE HOUSE" obviously due to potentially catastrophic consequences. The exact location of plant is unclear; we only know it was in an outbuilding.
See (S1).
W. Arnold (HES), 16 May 2011.