On Friday, 30 June 2017 10:47:10 UTC+1, Jim GM4DHJ ... wrote:
every traditional four storey tenement in scotland had the gas supply in the
common stair .....worked fine for years but then again closes were open
front and back ....

I think Edinburgh closes were traditionally closed, at least in the better class of buildings, with multiple bell-pulls at the front door and a rod mechanism for opening the door from upper flats. Glasgow were traditionally open.

I have lived in closes which still had the remains of gas lighting points in the close.

Owain