The Flickr Electricitygeneratingstation Image Generatr

A full page advert in the 1927 edition of the book "Ports of the LNER" issued by the railway company. The advert shows the Company's statutory undertaking for electricity supply - albeit certain towns and cities had their own undertakings. The YEP supplied both individual consumers through their 1905 subsidiary the Electrical Distribution of Yorkshire Limited, domestic but especially industrial, as well as providing bulk supplies to other undertakings.

The map shows the overlap between their area with coalfields and iron mines, the former effectively in Yorkshire and the latter in Lincolnshire, as well as railways and canals to appeal to prospective industrialists. The map also shows the then new 'super station' at Ferrybridge that was commissioned in 1926/7. Oddly it does not show the YEP's existing generating stations at Thornhill (opened in 1902) or Barugh (1913). The Yorkshire Electric Power Company, headquartered in Leeds, had been formed in 1901 and became one of the major private electricity undertakings. The company was nationalised in 1948.

Henry Hope & Sons Ltd were a long established manufacturer of architectural metalware and glazing systems based in Smethwick. Their publications and advertising always met high standards of typography and publishing and this wonderful and substantial book is no exception as it was printed at The Curwen Press in London and demonstrates much of their acknowledged skill.

The catalogue - Publication No. 260, issued in December 1951 - was for drawing office use giving details of specifications, sections and other information and covers a vast number of building types and architectural styles. Needless to say, although Hope's windows were sold for 'older styles' their galvanised steel glazing systems fitted well into modern architectural styles and they produced special systems for large scale projects such as office blocks, factories and power stations.

In post-war Britain the newly nationalised electricity industry was keen to catch up with the replacement of generating stations that wartime delays and use had marked down as in urgent need to replacement as well as carrying on with the move to modern, larger generating stations able to cope with increasing demand for electricity. The British Electricity Authority (later the CEA and then CEGB) inherited schemes planned by pre-nationalisation undertakings as well as designing new stations themselves. The catalogue has a extensive section on power stations as glazing, for light and ventilation as well as for aesthetic reasons, played an increasing role in their designs. Hope's not only specialised in window frames but also the many geared opening and ventilation systems.

This image shows the new Uskmouth "A" power station, near Newport in South Wales, under construction that commenced in 1948 - it was first commissioned in December 1952. It was one of the largest capacity stations in South Wales, one of the 'new' generation of large power stations. A second "B" station was constructed in the late 1950s and the "A" station ceased generating in 1981. The architects were Johnson Blackett FRIBA and the civil engineers L. G. Mouchel & Partners.

Henry Hope & Sons Ltd were a long established manufacturer of architectural metalware and glazing systems based in Smethwick. Their publications and advertising always met high standards of typography and publishing and this wonderful and substantial book is no exception as it was printed at The Curwen Press in London and demonstrates much of their acknowledged skill.

The catalogue - Publication No. 260, issued in December 1951 - was for drawing office use giving details of specifications, sections and other information and covers a vast number of building types and architectural styles. Needless to say, although Hope's windows were sold for 'older styles' their galvanised steel glazing systems fitted well into modern architectural styles and they produced special systems for large scale projects such as office blocks, factories and power stations.

In post-war Britain the newly nationalised electricity industry was keen to catch up with the replacement of generating stations that wartime delays and use had marked down as in urgent need to replacement as well as carrying on with the move to modern, larger generating stations able to cope with increasing demand for electricity. The British Electricity Authority (later the CEA and then CEGB) inherited schemes planned by pre-nationalisation undertakings as well as designing new stations themselves. The catalogue has a extensive section on power stations as glazing, for light and ventilation as well as for aesthetic reasons, played an increasing role in their designs. Hope's not only specialised in window frames but also the many geared opening and ventilation systems.

The original Kingston "A" station, using the adjacent River Thames for coal and cooling water supply, had been opened by the municipal undertaking in 1893 and the new "B" station was planned for construction in the 1930s. This, delayed by war, was completed in 1948 and the new power station was officially opened in HM King George VI and was the first to be commissioned under the newly nationalised industry. The stylish brick face building, important given the town centre location, ceased generation in 1980 and there was a hope it would survive as a new museum but was ultimately demolished, the twin chimneys coming down in 1994. The plate notes the role of Coode, Vaughan-Lee, Frank & Gwyther as civil engineers to the scheme.

Posted to Guess Where London on 24-06-21.

GWL141: Hungerford House (former electricity generating station), Victoria Embankment, Westminster WC2.

A once widespread feature of the UK landscape, both urban and rural, was the power generating station cooling tower, often the landmark feature marking the site and now, usually in a brief few explosive moments, they're gone. In fact they're rapidly in danger of becoming extinct here and I fear that one day they will be regarded as one of the great lost architectural moments of a key part of the UK's economic and social history - electricity has had such a fundemental impact on our world and life.

This is from the 1946 catalogue issued by the Mitchell Engineering group, a company whose interests spanned a wide range both the manufacturing of many types of engineering equipment as well as constructing and fitting out industrial and commercial buildings and structures. One of their areas of expertise was in electricity generating where they made boilers, fuel handling an ash disposal equipment and, as seen here, undertook specialist construction work.

The construction of hyperbolic reinforced concrete cooling towers was, as this states, a "specialist operation" and MEG had considerable experience of constructing such towers. Sadly it doesn't state the power station or site but it gives a clear indication of the construction technique and fit out of these vanishing giants.

Hamilton Road Twickenham.
Conversion of the original council electricity generating station into flats.

The former location of St Swithins Electricity Generating Station, Spa Road, Stamp End, Lincoln, Lincolnshire.

An electricity generating station built between 1945 and 1948, with northern extension of 1953, opened in 1948 to replace previous station on same site. Architects Mouchel and Partners, consulting engineers, Victoria Street, London. It had a capacity of 60MW. It was nationalised in 1948 under Central Electricity Generating Board. Generating plant decommissioned in 1984. Part demolished in 1998 and the overgrown site closed off. Main building demolished June-August 2003, leaving some ancillary buildings to the east surviving and in use.

The former location of St Swithins Electricity Generating Station, Spa Road, Stamp End, Lincoln, Lincolnshire.

An electricity generating station built between 1945 and 1948, with northern extension of 1953, opened in 1948 to replace previous station on same site. Architects Mouchel and Partners, consulting engineers, Victoria Street, London. It had a capacity of 60MW. It was nationalised in 1948 under Central Electricity Generating Board. Generating plant decommissioned in 1984. Part demolished in 1998 and the overgrown site closed off. Main building demolished June-August 2003, leaving some ancillary buildings to the east surviving and in use.

The former location of St Swithins Electricity Generating Station, Spa Road, Stamp End, Lincoln, Lincolnshire.

An electricity generating station built between 1945 and 1948, with northern extension of 1953, opened in 1948 to replace previous station on same site. Architects Mouchel and Partners, consulting engineers, Victoria Street, London. It had a capacity of 60MW. It was nationalised in 1948 under Central Electricity Generating Board. Generating plant decommissioned in 1984. Part demolished in 1998 and the overgrown site closed off. Main building demolished June-August 2003, leaving some ancillary buildings to the east surviving and in use.

Robert Morham, 1894 with Professor Alexander Kennedy as consulting engineer; extended with an extra floor 1897/8. 2 and 3-storey with basement and attic, 14-bay Italian palazzo style former power station. Coursed red sandstone ashlar.

This building was originally designed by Robert Morham as the Edinburgh Lighting Central Generating Station. The site evolved throughout the 20th century, being downgraded to sub-station status with the arrival of the National Grid and more centralised large-scale electricity generation. The station retained its switchgear whilst serving as an administrative centre.

In recent years, a large open sub-station on the East side of the building was renovated and painted in bright colours which were illuminated with coloured lights at night, forming a very effective visual promotion of the privatised utility, Scottish Power plc.

Edinburgh Council granted permission for demolition with the condition of façade retention. Shown here it is now mostly an empty shell. With this policy on listed buildings how long will it be before our heritage is only skin deep...

Robert Morham was born in Edinburgh in 1839. In about 1854 he was articled to David Rhind and remained with him for five years before transferring to the office of David Bryce where he spent three years. In 1866 he became principal assistant to David Cousin and was briefly his partner until Cousin's retirement in 1873. He then succeeded him as City Superintendent of Works. In that role his many public buildings in the city include Police Stations, Fire Stations, Swimming Pools and fine restoration work.

by Andrew Crummy, 2004

From Port Seton Harbour.

From Gosford Road.

From the High Street.