This is how the manor house derived its electricity before it was available from the national grid. John Langridge, one of the layouts original creators, was well versed in the equipment required for this and, with Geoff's assistance, calculated the type and size of everything required. He then researched the equipment available at the time and made the gas production equipment that is visible now.
Poor quality coal and coke was used that created a noxious gas (Producer gas) of low calorific value, but it was cheap and could be delivered by the railway. The process starts with a vertical retort on the left of the building where a staircase is used to deliver the combustibles to the loading door on the top. The exhaust gas was piped through a filter unit and then through an adjacent 'scrubber'. Finally, it passed to the gasometer that floats in a water-filled trough, rising and falling with the volume of gas.
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| The gas equipment after years in the loft. |
The gas was then transferred to the engine room (to the right) where it powered a 10hp, single cylinder, horizontal, Tangye engine. A belt transferred motion to a generator creating electricity that was stored in the glass-cased batteries around the engine room. This produced 100v DC electricity, enough to supply lights in the manor house.
A working Tangye engine model made by Geoff sits in the engine room and there is an authentic sound loop.
