What are these structures?

[Marcos]

[DDY]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_holder

[g8ina]

aka "gasometers"

[Pob255]

Also know as gasworks or gastowers
Mainly now redundant in the UK, where generally used before the discovery of the north sea oil and gas fields, Back when the majority of the UK gas came from coal gas, you take raw coal out of the ground, heat it, take the gases that come off, separate out the heavier fractions (tars) and you're left with a mixed flammable gas, which is hard to store in liquid or high pressure forms.
It's still used in modern coal power stations because they are actually coke & gas power stations, the reason for it rather than burn raw coal (which can and is done) is to remove the sulphur to reduce the sulphur air pollution.

[Shirty]

They are mainly used these days for temporary storage to alleviate sudden rushes on the mains network afaik.

[peterb]

The photo shows the supports. The actual gasometer is like an inverted bucket that floats on water. Obviously it would topple if it wasn't supported. As the gasometer is filled (under pressure), the bucket rises out of the water supported by the structures shown. When the gas is required, gravity pulls the bcket down, expelling the gas.

[santa claus]

You're probably right peter. It looks like a shed to me though

[scaryjim]

The MOSI has some good demonstrations of how these work in its gas hall (underneath the station platforms). Well worth a look if you're in the Manchester area; the MOSI is a great day out and its free to get in to

[rox0r]

Another thing that those of us of a certain vintage remember as seeing everywhere as the norm, along with white dog poo.

[Phage]

Another thing that those of us of a certain vintage remember as seeing everywhere as the norm, along with white dog poo.

I know. Saw this post and had what might be referred to as an OMG WTF I'm so old moment.

[Marcos]

Another thing that those of us of a certain vintage remember as seeing everywhere as the norm, along with white dog poo.

Whats that last bit about?

[GoNz0]

dog food doesn't contain as much bone/calcium as it did years ago, along with picking up your dogs crap instead of leaving it means you don't see as much dried up white poop.

next you will be asking what a cassette tape is.

[Marcos]

dog food doesn't contain as much bone/calcium as it did years ago, along with picking up your dogs crap instead of leaving it means you don't see as much dried up white poop.

next you will be asking what a cassette tape is.

Hah, I know what a cassette tape is

Its the brand of those cool iPhone cases right?

[Amaro]

I think these are the structure for the water tanks........

[Rave]

These are everywhere in London, still in use as far as I can tell since they're mostly set pretty high.

[ik9000]

Definitely gas holders, and if they hadn't been so busy flattening them all round the country we would have had enough storage to buffer us and wouldn't have had that gas emergency a few months back where we had to outbid the carribean islands for gas from the middle east.... Yet again a lack of government foresight and going for the fast buck = bite us in the butt down the road.