 By 1279 the area was known for property inhabited by the poorer townsfolk, and remained so until the middle of the 20th century.In 1818 gas works were built on the north bank of the River Thames in St Ebbes, to supply the city of Oxford with gas.St Ebbes expanded significantly in the 19th century, and by 1882 there was no room to expand the gas works, and new gasholders had to be built on the south bank of the river.