Been trying to figure this English "building"...

What? You've seen more of England then I have .. I've never come across a building like that before.

Mate, you need to open your eyes and look around

I never noticed them really until I lived in Wakefield for a few weeks, and I often passed one of them... so I became aware of them especially when I noticed that the roof are on different heights everytime I pass them.

They're full of gas as in the non-liquid gas. Gasometer. I think the roof goes up and down according to the amount of gas in there at any given time.

So it is gas?

Wouldn't that be inflammable? a hazardous threat to the community if accident occur?

Yes, goodfielder is correct. It is a gasometer, which stores North sea gas.

Our "gas" in the UK, is different from the USA gas, which is liquid used to fill cars...i.e.petrol.

When the Gasometers were first erected, they were used to sore coal gas.

Our gas is now natural gas, formed above the oil reservoirs, which you can see being burned off from oil rigs, creating a massive flame.

The weight of the metal roof of the gasometer (yes, it DOES go up and down) presses down on the stored gas, thereby maintaining pressure to the pipes that lead into our homes.

At our end of things, we turn the knob on the gas cooker, spark the little elecronic doo dah to the side of the gas burner, and ...hey presto, a nice blue flame to cook our food.

There used to be many more gasometers around the country, but alas they are being phased out, as more modern technology takes over.
They are perfectly safe, built as strong as a brick s*ithouse and are made of iron. Some are very ornate (I will try to find some examples) and have been preserved as a listed structure.

I will miss them when they are gone.....a bit like our red phone boxes and double decker buses, really. Quintessentially British.

I haven't found many good photos yet, but this link will give you a feeling of the affection that most of us feel for the hideous things.

http://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/gasometer_church_rd_personal.htm

Edit:- And another....a good photo of an empty one.

http://www.ministry-of-information.co.uk/blog1/020604-05.htm

Thanks for that.
I am kinda in disbelief that the British would store something like that in the open... I mean it is inflammable...

they're not just british, this one is in the Ruhr

http://www.industriekultur-fotografie.de/details.php?image_id=3896

I've been inside, its now a art/display/exhibition centre. Fantastic views, inside and from the top!

Correct me if I'm wrong, someone, but these things have been around since the mid Victorian era, and I can't honestly remember ever hearing that one had exploded, or caused a fire.

They are very safe, it appears.

I would imagine that there was a higher risk of explosion from a Curry House Lavatory.

Hang about! The local curry house is next to the gasometer!