Historically speaking and climate-protection issues aside (albeit just for the argument’s sake), what would we be without electric power and regular gas supplies? Permanently freezing, underfed, helpless babes in Nature’s woods - with very limited access to online social networks.
It is, indeed, a wonderful thing not to have to generate energy by pedalling the equivalent of the distance Berlin-Braunschweig every time you want to illuminate your kitchen. As wonderful as not having to keep the fire burning in the kids’ room to keep their toes from freezing off in winter.
Kreuzberg has its humble share in the Industrial Revolution and for a while the borough was a beacon of light for the city of Berlin. Literally so. It provided gas that used to light the heart of Prussian capital, Unter den Linden. And it all started here:
On 18 September, 1826 the newly opened Englische Gasanstalt (gasworks) in today’s Gitschiner Straße provided first gas supply to illuminate the famous Berlin boulevard, Unter den Linden.
However, anyone trying to look its address up in Berlin directories for that period under the letter "G" should remember that there was no Gitschiner Straße yet. More importantly, there was no Straße as such at all.
The address book for 1828 would direct you to a place Vor dem Halleschen Thore, links an der Mauer 4. (Before Hallesches Tor or Halle Gate, to the left behind the City Wall and at No. 4). Only in 1845 did the road get a proper name: Hallische (or Hallesche) Kommunikation. Then in 1852 it became Hellweg and remained so until 1868 when Gitschiner Straße was called to life. After that the Englische Gasanstalt could be found at No. 19-22.
The word Englisch describes the background of the company that literally brought (gas) light to Berlin. On April 24, 1825 Imperial-Continental-Gas-Association from London signed an extremely profitable contract with Prussian Ministry for Interior, thus securing their monopoly on providing light gas to Prussian capital for the following twelve years.
From 1 January, 1826 until 1848 the gentlemen from Blighty were to provide gas light to all the main streets and squares within the capital’s city walls (meaning within the Akzisemauer and its numerous gates) as well as - upon special order - to many establishments such as theatres, cafes and hotels. Well-heeled Berliners could also enjoy the almost smoke-free (a great leap forward!) gas light as long as they were prepared to overpay for the necessary gas connection. Which of course they did, gas light being as much of a status symbol as a private horse-drawn carriage.
On 19 September 1826 the gasworks at the Flußgraben - a drainage ditch that 25 years became the Landwehrkanal and was used by the company to deliver coal shipped all the way from England (clearly, they played their monopoly card well) - took up its duties. Only a couple of hours later the main traffic artery of the city and its own Vanity Fair as well as cultural centre par excellence, Unter den Linden, could wrap itself up in the warm, mellow light of 27 Camberwell gas lamps.
By 1829 the number of gas street lamps would have grown to 1,800 (not counting the private "flames" as they were known back then).
Today Berlin prides itself on nearly 17,500 such lamps (only 12-13 years ago there were still over twice as many which made up almost exactly 50% of the world stock). Around 1,000 of those lamps are well over 100 years old and still carry the letters ICGS on the mast. Unfortunately, due to saving measures and concerns for their incompatibility with the current environment-protection requirements, the light they produce is slowly but steadily losing its buttery hue, being replaced by electric illumination.
As for the old English Gasworks at the Landwehrkanal, you will not find them there any more: with their capacity already reduced in the 1920s (also because of the pollution they produced in the midst of what was the most densely populated Berlin borough), the old gasworks were hit in several air-raids and their remains removed after the war.
Their site, however, is still a well-known place: it is where one of Berlin’s most famous city lidos - Sommerbad Kreuzberg - was built in the 1950s. The lido is better known as “Prinzenbad”.
Thank you for reading another story from Berlin Companion’s treasure trove of History and Trivia. If you enjoyed the text, please comment, follow and share. You can also support my work by becoming a supporter or by just buying me a coffee. All of the above are highly appreciated.
Fascinating post!