Imperial Continental Gas Association
Encyclopedia
Imperial Continental Gas Association plc was a leading British
gas
utility operating in various cities in Continental Europe
. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange
and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index
.
and some of his colleagues based in London
in 1824 as the Imperial Continental Gas Association to establish gas utilities in other counties. It commenced operations distributing gas in Hannover in 1825 and providing gas lighting in Berlin
in 1826. During the course of the 19th century it established gas works in Antwerp, Brussels
, Berlin
and Vienna
. Its offices in Vienna
, opened in 1873, were at the Palais Epstein
. Four huge gasometer
s in Vienna
, completed in 1899, remain a monument
to the Company.
The noted philanthropist
Goodwin Newton
of Barrells Hall
, and Glencripesdale Estate
was Director and Chairman for a long period in the late nineteenth century.
It established the Westergasfabriek
gas works in Amsterdam
in 1883.
In 1928 it established Distrigas
, the main gas distributor in Belgium
, which is now owned by Eni
. During World War I
its operations in Berlin
were nationalised by the German
Government.
In 1969 the Company acquired all the shares in Calor Group that it did not already own.
In 1986 it rejected a bid from Gulf Resources & Chemical Corporation, a company controlled by the Barclay brothers
. Instead in 1987 it broke itself up into Calor Group (now owned by SHV) and Contibel (now owned by Tractebel).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
utility operating in various cities in Continental Europe
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index
FTSE 100 Index
The FTSE 100 Index, also called FTSE 100, FTSE, or, informally, the footsie , is a share index of the 100 most highly capitalised UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange....
.
History
The Company was formed by Sir Moses MontefioreMoses Montefiore
Sir Moses Haim Montefiore, 1st Baronet, Kt was one of the most famous British Jews of the 19th century. Montefiore was a financier, banker, philanthropist and Sheriff of London...
and some of his colleagues based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1824 as the Imperial Continental Gas Association to establish gas utilities in other counties. It commenced operations distributing gas in Hannover in 1825 and providing gas lighting in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1826. During the course of the 19th century it established gas works in Antwerp, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. Its offices in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, opened in 1873, were at the Palais Epstein
Palais Epstein
Palais Epstein is a Ringstraßenpalais in Vienna, Austria. It was built for the industrialist and banker Gustav Ritter von Epstein. The architect was Theophil Freiherr von Hansen, who also designed the adjacent Austrian Parliament Building...
. Four huge gasometer
Gasometer
A gas holder is a large container where natural gas or town gas is stored near atmospheric pressure at ambient temperatures. The volume of the container follows the quantity of stored gas, with pressure coming from the weight of a movable cap...
s in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, completed in 1899, remain a monument
Monument
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
to the Company.
The noted philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
Goodwin Newton
Goodwin Newton
Thomas Henry Goodwin Newton was the Chairman of Imperial Continental Gas Association , one of the United Kingdom's largest energy businesses...
of Barrells Hall
Barrells Hall
Barrells Hall is a small stately home in the Warwickshire countyside near Henley-in-Arden. The nearest village is Ullenhall, which for many years was the estate village, large parts of it having been built by the owners of Barrells Hall, the Newtons of Glencripesdale Estate...
, and Glencripesdale Estate
Glencripesdale Estate
Glencripesdale Estate is situated along the south side of Loch Sunart, a sea loch in the west highlands of Scotland.Today, the Isle of Càrna is the last remaining part of the once huge 35,000 acre deer forest and grousemoor based Glencripesdale Estate, which was bought in 1870 by the three Newton...
was Director and Chairman for a long period in the late nineteenth century.
It established the Westergasfabriek
Westergasfabriek
The Westergasfabriek is a former gasworks in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, now used as a cultural venue.- History :In the 19th century the Imperial Continental Gas Association built two coal gas plants in Amsterdam: the Eastern Gas Factory and the Western Gas Factory. The latter was ready in 1885...
gas works in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
in 1883.
In 1928 it established Distrigas
Distrigas
Distrigas is a natural gas company based in Belgium. It is a subsidiary of the Italian energy company Eni. In addition to Belgium, the company operates also in France, the Netherlands and Germany.-History:...
, the main gas distributor in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, which is now owned by Eni
Eni
Eni S.p.A. is an Italian multinational oil and gas company, present in 70 countries, and currently Italy's largest industrial company with a market capitalization of 87.7 billion euros , as of July 24, 2008...
. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
its operations in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
were nationalised by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Government.
In 1969 the Company acquired all the shares in Calor Group that it did not already own.
In 1986 it rejected a bid from Gulf Resources & Chemical Corporation, a company controlled by the Barclay brothers
David and Frederick Barclay
Sir David Rowat Barclay and Sir Frederick Hugh Barclay are British businessmen. The identical twin brothers have very substantial business interests primarily in media, retail and property. The Sunday Times Rich List of 2007 estimated their wealth at £1.8 billion...
. Instead in 1987 it broke itself up into Calor Group (now owned by SHV) and Contibel (now owned by Tractebel).