MovieChat Forums > The Full Monty (1997) Discussion > The cage-like structures commonly seen i...

The cage-like structures commonly seen in UK

posted 12 years ago by poserpro
4 replies | jump to latest

I firstly noticed this kind of structure a few years ago in Google Earth and the movies of Alfie(1966) and Melody(1970), it can also be seen anywhere in the present version of Street View of Google earth. And at this movie, I also found 2 scenes having shown this kind of round metal cages, I recalled some posters of GooleEarth forum told me the cages were kind of oil tanks.

Can any British confirm and suffice my curiosity as what exactly are the cage-like structures used for ?

[–] kayekaye-1 12 years ago

Look up "gasometer" on Wikipedia. They were a standard feature of the urban landscape in Europe

Most in the Uk were removed during the 80s/90s (though a few still remain) so many people commenting here under the age of say 30 won't likely have lived close enough to one to know what it is.

When morning comes twice a day or not at all

[–] poserpro 12 years ago

Thanks for the excellent explanation, "gasometer" is exactly the term I learnt from the GE forum back then.

[–] ethansconn 12 years ago

Theres one of them down from where i live, never knew what it was/for lol.

[–] WesJones_87 11 years ago

The 'cage' is a frame with steps for workers to climb up when the gosometer is full, and the inside rises up from the ground. Rather like the way a steam piston works.