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An unusually subdued advert for the Smethwick based Henry Hope & Sons Ltd; usually the company's publicity and advertising was noted for its use of typography and design which is somewhat lacking in this July 1933 advert that shows the use of their products in electriicty generating or power stations. Hope's were a major manufacturer of architecture ironmongery and window systems and one of their specialities was large scale glazing systems for industrial buildings such as these.

The four generating stations seen here are all very much of the second generation "super" stations. These were actively promoted by the Government backed reorganisation of the British electriicty industry starting in the 1920s that looked to rationalise the generation, supply and distribution of electrcity that had developed in a highly fragmented and inefficent fashion. The development of the National Grid saw various existing and proposed new generating stations designated as "selected" stations and these four fit that designation.

Ironbridge "A" station seen here on the banks of the River Severn was developed by the West Midlands Joint Power Authority, an early example of cooperation in the then fragmented electrical generation and supply industry in the UK that was seen as slowing the growth of the business. The WMJPA came into existance in 1925 and was it included both municipal undertakings (Walsall, West Bromwich, Cannock, Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton) and the local private undertaking the Midland Electric Corporation. One of the reasonings behind the Joint Authority, given added credence by the formation in 1926 of the Central Electricity Authority, was to build new 'super' generating stations and inter-connecting 'grid' lines. The site at Ironbridge had been selected in 1927, on the banks of the River Severn the waters of supplied the coal fired station, and construction of the first phase was completed in 1932.

London's now famous Battersea Power Station was constructed London Power Company, an undertaking that had been formed in 1925 made up of several of the smaller private electricity companies in the Capital and that was, in many ways, part of the Government inspired trend towards larger and more efficient generation units.

The LEP started work on the site at Vauxhall in 1929 and the intention was always to build the station in two phases. To help calm fears regarding the visual appearance of the buildings, so close to Central London, the company commissioned the eminent architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott as the consultant architect although it is worth recalling that the consultant engineers also played an important role in the design of the building. These included Leonard Pearce (who had been head of Manchester's municipal undertaking until 1926), Henry Allott and T P O'Sullivan. The main architects were Halliday & Agate and the main Art Deco finishes in the interior, notably the control room, are credited to Halliday. It is seen here in early days with one completed chimney, the second under scaffolding. The other two of the later four were constructed as part of a pot-war expansion of the station.

The Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company was a major regional player in the generation and supply of electricity and was formed in 1903 to exploit opportunities to provide supplies to smaller authorised undertakings and smaller areas without supply. The company acquired a series of existing and smaller generating stations. During the First World War the company nearly entered into agreements with the massive Birmingham municipal undertaking to jointly build two new 'super' stations at Nechells and Stourport but the scheme foundered and whilst Birmingham built Nechells, the company went ahead alone and constructed Stourport in 1927 and closing several smaller and inefficent plants at the same time.

The final station shown was the pride of the City of Birmingham's Electricity Supply Department, arguably the largest municipal undertaking in the country. As can be seen above, the original plan to jointly develop Stourport fell through and after work at the 'land locked' Nechells site was completed the city decided to construct a major new power station to the east of Birmingham at Hams Hall where coal and water were easily available. The inital phase, the A station, was commissioned in 1929 and was soon recognised as being one of the largest power stations in Europe. Such was the demand for electricity in the city that Hams Hall "B" was planned in 1937 and work started, being completed during wartime conditions in 1943 and B station was extended between 1947 and 1949.

The Smethwick based hardware and window manufacturer Henry Hope & Sons Ltd. had, for many years, a high standard of advertising and publicity, and this small booklet is no exception. It describes their range of standard steel framed windows along with information and advice as to uses and fitting and although printed in Birmingham, at the Kynoch Press, it was issued in the company's name from their Park Avenue address in New York City.

Hope's had long exported to the US and in 1930 they acquired the International Casement Company, Jamestown, New York, and started production for the North American market. The highly regarded Kynoch Press was established by Nobel Industries at their Kynoch Ammunition Works in Birmingham and, when ICI was formed, it became the in-house printing works for the chemical giant as well as continuing to underake external contracts.

The Smethwick based hardware and window manufacturer Henry Hope & Sons Ltd. had, for many years, a high standard of advertising and publicity, and this small booklet is no exception. It describes their range of standard steel framed windows along with information and advice as to uses and fitting and although printed in Birmingham, at the Kynoch Press, it was issued in the company's name from their Park Avenue address in New York City.

Hope's had long exported to the US and in 1930 they acquired the International Casement Company, Jamestown, New York, and started production for the North American market. The highly regarded Kynoch Press was established by Nobel Industries at their Kynoch Ammunition Works in Birmingham and, when ICI was formed, it became the in-house printing works for the chemical giant as well as continuing to underake external contracts.

The Smethwick based hardware and window manufacturer Henry Hope & Sons Ltd. had, for many years, a high standard of advertising and publicity, and this small booklet is no exception. It describes their range of standard steel framed windows along with information and advice as to uses and fitting and although printed in Birmingham, at the Kynoch Press, it was issued in the company's name from their Park Avenue address in New York City.

Hope's had long exported to the US and in 1930 they acquired the International Casement Company, Jamestown, New York, and started production for the North American market. The highly regarded Kynoch Press was established by Nobel Industries at their Kynoch Ammunition Works in Birmingham and, when ICI was formed, it became the in-house printing works for the chemical giant as well as continuing to underake external contracts.

The Smethwick based hardware and window manufacturer Henry Hope & Sons Ltd. had, for many years, a high standard of advertising and publicity, and this small booklet is no exception. It describes their range of standard steel framed windows along with information and advice as to uses and fitting and although printed in Birmingham, at the Kynoch Press, it was issued in the company's name from their Park Avenue address in New York City.

Hope's had long exported to the US and in 1930 they acquired the International Casement Company, Jamestown, New York, and started production for the North American market. The highly regarded Kynoch Press was established by Nobel Industries at their Kynoch Ammunition Works in Birmingham and, when ICI was formed, it became the in-house printing works for the chemical giant as well as continuing to underake external contracts.

British Railways Southern Region, as successors to the Southern Railway who had owned the port before Nationalisation in 1948, continued the practice of issuing monthly lists showing the official sailings to and from the port. At the time Southampton was one of the premier passenger ports in the UK. Before inter-continental air travel became practical and affordable for the majority, travelling by sea was the only real option and the list shows the many passenger sailings across the Atlantic to North America and to other destinations across the globe.

The lists show the regular sailings, by date and by alphabetical order, as well as arrivals along with onward railway connections to London; these appear in both regular timetables and by way of Special named Boat Trains. The guide also lists BR's own sailings to the Continent and Channel Islands from Southampton. Rather amusingly the guide ignores the regular crossings to the Isle of Wight as these were run the, as now, by the private Red Funnel line and they appear simply as 'services to other ports in the UK from the Town Pier'!

One interesting page - showing the winds of change - is that of the departures and arrivals of BOAC's Flying Boat services from the docks. These, a post-war continuation of Imperial Airways pre-war services when flying boats were the only real method of managing long distance services, were on the verge of withdrawal and BOAC ceased to use Southampton in November of 1950 as modern aircraft took over.

The guide also contains 'news' items pertaining to the port and services, such as new ships or services. Alongside lists of officials and officers there are also pages of adverts for companies concerned directly with shipping or for then then vital services such as ships supplies.

The front cover artwork, of the prow of a vessel, as also used to adorn the cover of a contemporary guide for visitors to the Docks.

Amongst the many adverts are these; Henry Hope & Sons Ltd., of Smethwick, were major manufacturers of glazing and architectural handware and made the steel windows for the new Ocean Dock Passenger Terminal building. This advert is very typical of their 'style'. The second advert is for the Cunard White Star lines 'regualr sailings to the USA and Canada" and shows the deaprtures, via Havre or Cherbourg, of the major liners to New York that month. These included the famous SS Queen Mary, SS Queen Elizabeth, SS Caronia, SS Mauretania, and the SS Stratheden.

The West Midlands based company Henry Hope & Sons Ltd were a long established manufacturer of architectural metalwork and glazing systems. who, for many years, had high standards of advertising and publciity. This magnificent catalogue is no exception printed as it was by the exemplary Curwen Press of Plaistow, London, and showing all the hallmarks of the printers attention to detail, graphic design, layout and typography.

Catalogue 333, issued in 1959, covers patent glazing and lantern light systems and shows examples of types, styles and architectural detailing. The catalogue also shows recent work undertaken where Hope's products were fitted and these are often a fascinating glimpse into contemporary buildings and architecture.

Here, as frontispiece, we see Hope's Patent Vertical Glazing entering the nuclear age. Their products were used in the 200ft high vertical glazed elevations of the the Reactor Buildings at Hunterston Nuclear Power Station then under construction on the Firth of Clyde in Ayrshire. Work on this Magnox station for the South of Scotland Electricity Board began in 1957 and the station was formally opened in 1964. Construction was by the GEC-Simon Carves consortium and this, latterly known as Hunterston "A" as an additional "B" unit was constructed, generated electricity until closure in 1990. The station is now under going decommissioning.

The West Midlands based company Henry Hope & Sons Ltd were a long established manufacturer of architectural metalwork and glazing systems. who, for many years, had high standards of advertising and publciity. This magnificent catalogue is no exception printed as it was by the exemplary Curwen Press of Plaistow, London, and showing all the hallmarks of the printers attention to detail, graphic design, layout and typography.

Catalogue 333, issued in 1959, covers patent glazing and lantern light systems and shows examples of types, styles and architectural detailing. The catalogue also shows recent work undertaken where Hope's products were fitted and these are often a fascinating glimpse into contemporary buildings and architecture.

The title page shows the exemplary layout work of Curwen Press.

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.

Post-war Britain saw, as part of a wider reconstruction and expansion of urban areas, a large school building programme. This was not just to deal with war damage but also an increasing population of children after wartime and as the economy and living standards generally improved. School architecture was also considered very important with a move away from the often cramped and barrack like style of Victorian and Edwardian Board schools to a more modern aesthetic with plenty of light and air to aid the development of pupils and young people. Ventilation was also seen as important as we tend to forget that the scourge of tuberculosis was still common despite medical advances. Hope's amde a great play as to the suitability of their windows and glazing systems to match this new architecture and several pages of the catalogue are given over to the subject.

The opening page shows the Bedford Drive School, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead in Chshire by architects Willink & Dodd MA, FRIBA.

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.

Post-war Britain saw, as part of a wider reconstruction and expansion of urban areas, a large school building programme. This was not just to deal with war damage but also an increasing population of children after wartime and as the economy and living standards generally improved. School architecture was also considered very important with a move away from the often cramped and barrack like style of Victorian and Edwardian Board schools to a more modern aesthetic with plenty of light and air to aid the development of pupils and young people. Ventilation was also seen as important as we tend to forget that the scourge of tuberculosis was still common despite medical advances. Hope's amde a great play as to the suitability of their windows and glazing systems to match this new architecture and several pages of the catalogue are given over to the subject.

Two pages are devoted to the windows of the Redriff School in Rotherhithe, London, that was designed by the London County Council's architects R H Matthew ARIBA and the schools division architect R Wilson FRIBA. Construction started in 1949 on this single storey building that was to replace the original school that was completely destroyed by bombing in 1940. The school closed in 1990 and was relocated to a new site locally. As can be seen the windows included several opening sashes and external blinds.


Sir Robert Hogg Matthew, OBE FRIBA FRSE (12 December 1906 – 2 June 1975) was a noted Scottish architect and proponent of Modernist architecture who worked for the LCC as their Chief Architect from 1946 until 1956 and was responsible for helping built an international reputation for the LCC's buildings that included housing and educational buildings.

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.

Post-war Britain saw, as part of a wider reconstruction and expansion of urban areas, a large school building programme. This was not just to deal with war damage but also an increasing population of children after wartime and as the economy and living standards generally improved. School architecture was also considered very important with a move away from the often cramped and barrack like style of Victorian and Edwardian Board schools to a more modern aesthetic with plenty of light and air to aid the development of pupils and young people. Ventilation was also seen as important as we tend to forget that the scourge of tuberculosis was still common despite medical advances. Hope's amde a great play as to the suitability of their windows and glazing systems to match this new architecture and several pages of the catalogue are given over to the subject.

The Cherry Orchard window, with multiple openings operated by a cam system, was named after and fitted to the City of Birmingham Education Department's Cherry Orchard Road School. The school, in Handsworth Wood, was by architect was W T Benslyn ARCA, FRIBA. Several pupils have posed themselves very neatly for the camera!

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.

Post-war Britain saw, as part of a wider reconstruction and expansion of urban areas, a large school building programme. This was not just to deal with war damage but also an increasing population of children after wartime and as the economy and living standards generally improved. School architecture was also considered very important with a move away from the often cramped and barrack like style of Victorian and Edwardian Board schools to a more modern aesthetic with plenty of light and air to aid the development of pupils and young people. Ventilation was also seen as important as we tend to forget that the scourge of tuberculosis was still common despite medical advances. Hope's amde a great play as to the suitability of their windows and glazing systems to match this new architecture and several pages of the catalogue are given over to the subject.

Two pages are devoted to the windows of the Redriff School in Rotherhithe, London, that was designed by the London County Council's architects R H Matthew ARIBA and the schools division architect R Wilson FRIBA. Construction started in 1949 on this single storey building that was to replace the original school that was completely destroyed by bombing in 1940. The school closed in 1990 and was relocated to a new site locally.

Sir Robert Hogg Matthew, OBE FRIBA FRSE (12 December 1906 – 2 June 1975) was a noted Scottish architect and proponent of Modernist architecture who worked for the LCC as their Chief Architect from 1946 until 1956 and was responsible for helping built an international reputation for the LCC's buildings that included housing and educational buildings.

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.

One section deals with the company's production of bronze framed windows that were described as being "for monumental buildings and, indeed, any first-class structure". The catalogue includes various examples of their use.

South Africa House, on the east side of London's Trafalgar Square, forms a group of 1930s buildings that included the site of Morley's Hotel. It was designed by architect Sir Herbert Baker, assisted by A T Scott, and includes decoration including sculptures by artists that include Coert Steynberg and Sir Charles Wheeler. South Africa House, the country's diplomatic mission in the UK, was opened in 1933.

The Cuban Palace of Congress is now known as El Capitolio, or the National Capitol Building (Capitolio Nacional de La Habana). Completed in 1929 the project having been commissioned by the then President Gerardo Machado to designs by the architect Eugenio Rayneri Piedra. The building apparently fell into disuse after the Cuban Revolution of 1959 but was subsequently restored.

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.

One section deals with the company's production of bronze framed windows that were described as being "for monumental buildings and, indeed, any first-class structure". The catalogue includes various examples of their use. Edwin Lutyens designed this Grade I-listed building at 27 Poultry in 1924 as the headquarters of Midland Bank in the City of London, returning to extend it from 1935 to 1937. Following Midland’s acquisition by HSBC in 1992, the building was vacated, stood empty for several years and was eventually bought by a private investment company. It has now been converted into an hotel.

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.

One section deals with the company's production of bronze framed windows that were described as being "for monumental buildings and, indeed, any first-class structure". The catalogue includes various examples of their use. This page shows bronze windows manufactured by the company's predecessors and used in the Palace of Westminster to the designs of Sir Charles Barry.

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.

The Queen's Hotel in Leeds was a mid-30s construction that opened in 1937 following the demolition of the original Midland Railway hotel on the site. Opened by the Princess Royal and Lord Harewood, the architect for the owners, the LMSR, was W Hamlyn with the interiors by William Curtis Green. The building, no longer in railway ownership still stands and is in use as an hotel. The issue of noise in city centre hotels was obviously not new but the double casements and windows as used here apparently blocked out significant amounts of the city's hustle and bustle. According to the Yorkshire Post "There was but a faint purr from outside...".

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.

The Queen's Hotel in Leeds was a mid-30s construction that opened in 1937 following the demolition of the original Midland Railway hotel on the site. Opened by the Princess Royal and Lord Harewood, the architect for the owners, the LMSR, was W Hamlyn with the interiors by William Curtis Green. The building, no longer in railway ownership still stands and is in use as an hotel. The issue of noise in city centre hotels was obviously not new but the double casements and windows as used here apparently blocked out significant amounts of the city's hustle and bustle. According to the Yorkshire Post "There was but a faint purr from outside...".

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.

This, one of two plates to show LNER signal boxes, is of "Holloway Amalgamation" and was designed in a polite Modernist style by J M Harrison ARIBA, architect. It rather echoes some of the contemporary work undertaken by London Transport's architects such as Charles Holden and Stanley Heaps with the extensive use of brick, reinforced concrete and the flat roof.

I cannot find out anything as to the precise location of this box, besides the obvious - Holloway in north London. The name rather suggests it was part of a larger resignalling that merged various older boxes?

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.

Construction of Bromborough Generating Station, on the banks of the River Mersey and using the river water for cooling, was started by the BEA in 1948 and the first generating set was commissioned in 1951. The station was close to two other Bromborough power stations both of which were constructed by Unilever/Lever Brothers to supply their works and hosuing at nearby Port Sunlight but that were connected to the National Grid. The consulting engineers on this scheme were Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners and it was originally built to burn coal. However soon after commissioning it was converted to oil burning boilers. The station was decommissioned in 1980.

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 plate shows the mighty Hams Hall B Generating Station that was not actually in Birmingham but beyond the city boundary - the site was however associated City of Birmingham Electricity Supply Department, the municipal undertaking that had first developed Hams Hall in the 1920s. The inital phase, the A station, was commissioned in 1929 and was soon recognised as being one of the largest power stations in Europe. Such was the demand for electricity in the city that Hams Hall "B" was planned in 1937 and work started, being completed during wartime conditions in 1943 and B station was extended between 1947 and 1949. Birmingham's was one, if not the, largest municipal generating and supply undertaking and in scale it challenged several of the larger private generating companies.

Again, at the time the two stations, the pride of Birmingham's supply department, were again arguably the largest concentration of generating equipment in Europe and the plant set records for thermal efficiency. As noted here the architects for this scheme were J Alfred Harper & Son and the consulting civil engineers, L G Mouchel & Partners Ltd.

The stations were nationalised in 1948 and the BEA constructed a third "C" station here that was commissioned in 1958 to 1958. Hams Hall "B" was decommissioned in 1981. The whole site has now been cleared and forms a retail distribution site.