They’ve been glowing for almost two centuries, and the gas lamps in Nottingham’s Park Estate continue to light the streets—just as they did in the 1800s.
The Park, a private residential area near Nottingham Castle, is believed to be the largest estate in the country still using gas lighting. Despite modern developments, these traditional lamps remain part of daily life for residents.
British Gas has recently taken over their maintenance, a move locals hope will protect this piece of history well into the future.
Andreas Liesche, who leads the Nottingham Park Estate board and also lives there, said people in the area take great pride in keeping the lamps burning.
“It just enhances the character of the estate. A lot of what we see in the estate is the very traditional, original construction, and it would have been illuminated all those years ago in very much the same way.”
He added that the setting feels almost rural, even though it’s close to the heart of the city.
“It’s a very quiet area to live, and of course the lighting gives that real characteristic of almost being in the countryside, despite being only a stone’s throw from the city centre.”
British Gas is no stranger to these kinds of lamps. David Moody, operational heritage manager for the company, said it meant a lot to be asked to take over.
“It was a massive boost,” he explained. “We’ve looked after the lamps in London for over 200 years, since they were first put in, so it’s a privilege and an honour to be asked to take over Nottingham Park Estate.”
He also reflected on the history behind the glow.
“The gas lamps were the start of the gas industry, and that’s where British Gas evolved from, from the Gas Light and Coke Company.”
Walking through the Park Estate is like stepping back in time. Besides the modern cars, much of the area still looks as it did when the homes were first built. Originally part of the castle’s deer park, the land began to be sold off in the early 1800s, and construction of the houses started around 1830.
“The gas lighting, which is one of the largest networks in the UK and Europe, followed shortly afterwards,” Mr Liesche said. “So originally they would have been installed for horses and carriages.”
“When the Park Estate was first created there were no cars, so it would have been horse-drawn carriages being pulled around the estate and the gas lighting was a means to allow them to navigate the area.”
Today, those same lamps continue to glow—connecting the past and present with a warm, flickering light.
While the days of horse-drawn carriages are long gone, the gas lamps in Nottingham’s Park Estate have stood the test of time.
For the estate’s 3,000 residents—who help make decisions about how the area is managed—keeping the traditional lighting system alive is about more than nostalgia. It’s about preserving history and maintaining the unique charm of the neighbourhood.
“There was a period when the gas lights were neglected in the 1970s, and prior to that as well,” said Andreas Liesche, chair of the Nottingham Park Estate board. “And there was a very positive drive to try to reinstate them and bring them back to their original use and beauty.”
But he’s clear the lamps aren’t just for show.
“One purpose is to make sure that the streets are appropriately illuminated, so that it’s safe to walk around The Park,” he explained. “What we want to do, without compromising anybody’s safety, is make sure that The Park remains illuminated through its traditional means.”
According to British Gas’s David Moody, while most of the UK’s gas lamps are in London, Nottingham stands out for its size.
“Nottingham has got the largest residential estate that we’re aware of, with 237,” he said.
Gas lamps also still exist in smaller numbers across the country—at York Minster, in Norwich, Oldham, and at the Black Country Living Museum. Across Europe, cities like Prague and Berlin have hundreds still in use.
In London, some of these lamps have recently been under threat, with local councils considering replacing them with electric lights. But groups like the London Gasketeers have pushed back—and thanks to their efforts, some lamps have even received Grade II-listed status.