The firm developed in the late 19th century with the growth of Poole and Bournemouth. The wre based closer to Poole Gas Works on the Hamworthy goods branch and their business was the carriage of 'waste products' from the conversion of coal to town gas. The coal was delivered by ship from the collieries (mainly in the north east) direct to the gas works quay in Poole Harbour opposite the town itself.

The coal tar produced by the gas works was originally seen as nuisance, but by the late 19th century research had shown that it contained naptha and pitch. The first was valuable and the second less so. Burt Boulton's business was the taking of coal tar from several gas works in the south to chemical works (mainly in the midlands and north) where the component parts were separated and used for the production of dye, pitch, chemicals and benzene. Operations continued until the 1950s when the introduction of north sea gas made the production of town gas no longer necessary.