Northampton Power Station
Encyclopedia
Northampton Power Station (also known as Nunn Mills Power Station) was a electricity generating station in Northampton
, Northamptonshire
, England, which began operation for the Northampton Electric Light and Power Company (NELPC) in the 1920s and generated power until closure in 1975.
just south-east of the town centre. It was also known as Nunn Mills Power Station being the name of a mill located on that part of the river, though none of the mill seems to remain. Two large concrete cooling tower
s east of the main turbine hall
s were demolished shortly after close. However, the derelict and graffiti
covered main buildings were still standing 35 years later in 2010. A large storage area for coal was located east of the generating plant and delivered by rail using a branch of the Northampton to Bedford railway line
.
, now part of Milton Keynes
.
The Electricity Act 1947 nationalised the electricity industry and set up the British Electricity Authority
, which became the Central Electricity Authority
(CEA) in 1955, controlled by the Minister of Fuel and Power. The Authority took over the NELPC and promoted efficient generation, transmission and distribution and cheaper prices in rural areas. It also standardised the system and electrical fittings and had 11 divisions and 12 area boards power station. NELPC became part of the East Midlands Electricity Board (EMEB). The CEA was in turn dissolved by the Electricity Act 1957
and replaced by the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) and the Electricity Council
.
next to the modern Avon Cosmetics
offices.
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, England, which began operation for the Northampton Electric Light and Power Company (NELPC) in the 1920s and generated power until closure in 1975.
Location
The plant was located on the south bank of the River NeneRiver Nene
The River Nene is a river in the east of England that rises from three sources in the county of Northamptonshire. The tidal river forms the border between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for about . It is the tenth longest river in the United Kingdom, and is navigable for from Northampton to The...
just south-east of the town centre. It was also known as Nunn Mills Power Station being the name of a mill located on that part of the river, though none of the mill seems to remain. Two large concrete cooling tower
Cooling tower
Cooling towers are heat removal devices used to transfer process waste heat to the atmosphere. Cooling towers may either use the evaporation of water to remove process heat and cool the working fluid to near the wet-bulb air temperature or in the case of closed circuit dry cooling towers rely...
s east of the main turbine hall
Turbine Hall
The turbine hall, generating hall or turbine building is a building that is a part of any steam cycle or hydroelectric power plant which houses a number of components vital to the generation of electricity from the steam that comes from the boiler, or from the water coming from the reservoir...
s were demolished shortly after close. However, the derelict and graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
covered main buildings were still standing 35 years later in 2010. A large storage area for coal was located east of the generating plant and delivered by rail using a branch of the Northampton to Bedford railway line
Bedford to Northampton Line
The Bedford to Northampton Line was a branch of the Midland Railway which served stations in three counties: Northampton and Horton in Northamptonshire, Olney in Buckinghamshire and Turvey and Bedford in Bedfordshire, England...
.
History
In 1926 the station was supplying electricity to the railway works at WolvertonWolverton railway works
Wolverton railway works was established in Wolverton, Buckinghamshire, by the London and Birmingham Railway Company in 1838 at the midpoint of the 112 mile-long route from London to Birmingham...
, now part of Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
.
The Electricity Act 1947 nationalised the electricity industry and set up the British Electricity Authority
British Electricity Authority
The British Electricity Authority was established in 1948 with the nationalisation of the Great Britain's electricity supply industry. It was created by means of the Electricity Act 1947...
, which became the Central Electricity Authority
Central Electricity Authority (UK)
The Central Electricity Authority was a body that ran the electricity supply industry in England and Wales between 1954 and 1957. The CEA replaced the earlier British Electricity Authority as a result of the Electricity Reorganisation Act 1954, which moved responsibility for Scottish electricity...
(CEA) in 1955, controlled by the Minister of Fuel and Power. The Authority took over the NELPC and promoted efficient generation, transmission and distribution and cheaper prices in rural areas. It also standardised the system and electrical fittings and had 11 divisions and 12 area boards power station. NELPC became part of the East Midlands Electricity Board (EMEB). The CEA was in turn dissolved by the Electricity Act 1957
Electricity Act 1957
The Electricity Act 1957 was an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom. The principal impact of the Act was the dissolution of the Central Electricity Authority , which it replaced with the Central Electricity Generating Board and the Electricity Council.The Electricity Act 1947, which...
and replaced by the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) and the Electricity Council
Electricity Council
The Electricity Council was a governmental body set up in 1957 to oversee the electricity supply industry in England and Wales. The Council's responsibilities included:...
.
Restoration
The site has been designated for redevelopment as housing for several years but as of 2010 remains an eyesoreEyesore
An eyesore is an unpleasant view. Its technical usage is as an alternative perspective to the notion of landmark. Common examples include dilapidated buildings, graffiti, litter, polluted areas and excessive commercial signage such as billboards. Some eyesores may be a matter of opinion such as...
next to the modern Avon Cosmetics
Avon Products
Avon Products, Inc. is a US cosmetics, perfume and toy seller with markets in over 140 countries across the world and sales of $9.9 billion worldwide as of 2007.-Business Model:...
offices.
See also
- Timeline of the UK electricity supply industryTimeline of the UK electricity supply industryThe following is a list of major events in the history of the United Kingdom's electricity supply industry.-See also:*Energy policy of the United Kingdom*Energy use and conservation in the United Kingdom*Energy switching services in the UK-References:* *...
- List of power stations in England
- List of pre-nationalisation UK electric power companies
- Public Electricity Suppliers
- National Grid (UK)