[Footnote 1: Since the above description was written in 1877 very extensive alterations have been made in these works. The Company have completed a large purifying house at the south side of the Creek, and have had constructed on the site of the Old Institute a dock for the purpose of admitting steam colliers of 1000 tons burden; and have erected a coal tramway from the same into the Works, crossing Nine Elms Lane with an iron bridge 22 feet from the roadway, which has been widened at least 20 feet. Moreover the carcass of the Old Flour Water-Mill has been pulled down the only vestiges remaining are the lock gates. Opposite Mr. Methven's residence a new institute and stables have been built. In the Works the old offices, workshops, stores, meter-house, and test rooms have been demolished, the high shaft pulled down and the jet exhauster removed. A new meter-house has been erected opposite the engine house and there has also been added new machinery. The Creek has been narrowed and the portion of ground recovered has considerably increased the size of the coke yard. A parapet has been built on both sides of the Creek to prevent the water from overflowing in the event of extraordinary high tides. Also a new stage retort house is being erected parallel with retort house No. 6. (Messrs. Kirk and Randall, Contractors). In addition, three blocks of new buildings have been erected on the west side of the road within the principal gate, is B (1) containing coke office, cashier's office and strong room; timekeeper's office, weigh office, coke foreman's office, superintendent's office and test room. On the east side of the road is B (2) containing gate-keeper's lobby and stores. At the south-east corner of the Works is B (3) consisting of workshops, lobby, etc. The whole of the three blocks were completed in about four months. (B. E. Nightingale, Builder and Contractor). The factory bell has been mounted against one of the columns belonging to the gasholder near the timekeeper's office, and a gasholder of colossal dimensions is being erected in the Company's field, Prince of Wales Road. The alterations, improvements, etc., at these Works within the last ten years have involved an outlay of about £200,000. _Yard Foreman_, Mr. A. Wilson; _Carbonizing Foremen_, Messrs. H. Walker, M. Walker, R. Johnston, W. Taylor, T. Reynolds, G. Feeney; _Purifying Foremen_, Messrs. D. Brown and H. Aylett; _Foreman of Enginemen_, Mr. G. Wilson; _Coke Foremen_, Messrs. G. Smith and C. Meredith; _Coal Gang Foreman_, Mr. W. Clowes; _Timekeeper_, Mr. R. Whitmore. Mr. R. Harvey was foreman over the men in the carbonizing department and had been upwards of forty years in the Company's employment, in consideration of his valuable services the Company have granted him, as they have also several other of their old and faithful servants, an annuity.]