Padiham Power Station
Encyclopedia
Padiham Power Station was a coal-fired power station
in Padiham
, east Lancashire
, England, which began operation in 1926 and generated power from 1927 till it was closed in 1993.
just west of the town. It was also known as Hapton or Simonstone
Power Station being close to all of the villages. Since the station closed, the site has been used for a modern business park, Shuttleworth Mead.
’s proposal to build a coal
-fired plant at Padiham (known as Padiham 'A') was approved in 1924 for a 12,000 kW station. By March 1925 two 6,000 kW alternator sets had been ordered, the sidings for delivery of coal by rail completed and work commenced on foundations. It was the second of three stations built by the company.
In 1926 the Electricity Supply Act established a Central Electricity Board to control the best and most efficient stations and set up a grid, standardise frequencies, supply local authorities and supply rural districts. The Padiham buildings had been roofed, alternators tested, installation begun, boilers erected, a weir
across the River Calder completed, two cooling towers and the coal and ash plant nearly complete. Test were underway by July and on 24 January 1927 the plant was brought into regular use.
An 11,000 volt line had been installed to the power stations at Accrington
and Radcliffe
. A further 12,500 kW alternator was ordered and eventually installed by 1929. The two sets were later rated at 7,500 and 15,625 kW. By 1940 Padiham was supplying loads at Padiham (7,600 kW), Nelson
and Colne
(20,500 kW) and Burnley
(20,500 kW). Two more 12,500 kW alternators were ordered. 70 million units per year at 20% load factor were being generated and in 1942/3 two more boilers were being installed.
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 LEP 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. Padiham power station became part of the North Western Electricity Board (NWEB). The CEA was in turn dissolved by the Electricity Act 1957
and replaced by the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) and the Electricity Council
.
In 1957 a 240MW station, Padiham "B", was authorised with the first unit of 120MW commissioned in 1962. In 1964 a Padiham "C" was proposed but not built. Padiham "A" closed in 1969. In 1971 some oil firing and orimulsion
was proposed at one stage but it seems only coal and petrocoke
were ever used. By 1984 the station was generating 15 million MW hours.
In 1993 the last load of coal was delivered and Padiham "B" ceased generation on 31 March.
The power station is also notable for being used in a minor capacity during the filming of science fiction comedy series Red Dwarf in the 1990s
to Burnley and Blackburn in 1957, the section to the power station was retained for coal deliveries. Part of it was under consideration by Lancashire County Council
as a rural walk in 2008. The weir constructed to provide cooling water for the plant was also under consideration for partial removal to provide a canoe slalem and aid fish, salmon
and trout
, trying to reach the upper part of the river. The Environment Agency
believes that the quality of the Calder is now of a standard that can support these fish. The project is a joint fish pass and canoe run. Fish movement upstream will open up opportunities for course and game fishing in the rural areas up stream. The works to remove the derelict weir will see the final stage of the reclamation of the former power station and the work is complimentary to the county’s developing land reclamation programme.
Fossil fuel power plant
A fossil-fuel power station is a power station that burns fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas or petroleum to produce electricity. Central station fossil-fuel power plants are designed on a large scale for continuous operation...
in Padiham
Padiham
Padiham is a small town and civil parish on the River Calder, about west of Burnley and south of Pendle Hill, in Lancashire, England. It is part of the Borough of Burnley but also has its own town council with varied powers.-History:...
, east Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England, which began operation in 1926 and generated power from 1927 till it was closed in 1993.
Location
The plant was located on the north bank of the River CalderRiver Calder, Lancashire
The River Calder is a major tributary of the River Ribble, starting in Cliviger close to Burnley in Lancashire, England and is around 24 km / 15 miles in length. Its source is very close to that of the West Yorkshire river with the same name, and that of the River Irwell. It flows through...
just west of the town. It was also known as Hapton or Simonstone
Simonstone, Lancashire
Simonstone is a small, largely residential, village in the Ribble Valley area of East Lancashire about west of Padiham, west of Burnley and south of Pendle Hill...
Power Station being close to all of the villages. Since the station closed, the site has been used for a modern business park, Shuttleworth Mead.
History
The Lancashire Electric Power (LEP) companyThe Lancashire Electric Power Company
The Lancashire Electric Power Company was one of the largest private electricity companies in the UK. It was established by Act of Parliament in 1900.-History:...
’s proposal to build a coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
-fired plant at Padiham (known as Padiham 'A') was approved in 1924 for a 12,000 kW station. By March 1925 two 6,000 kW alternator sets had been ordered, the sidings for delivery of coal by rail completed and work commenced on foundations. It was the second of three stations built by the company.
In 1926 the Electricity Supply Act established a Central Electricity Board to control the best and most efficient stations and set up a grid, standardise frequencies, supply local authorities and supply rural districts. The Padiham buildings had been roofed, alternators tested, installation begun, boilers erected, a weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
across the River Calder completed, two cooling towers and the coal and ash plant nearly complete. Test were underway by July and on 24 January 1927 the plant was brought into regular use.
An 11,000 volt line had been installed to the power stations at Accrington
Accrington
Accrington is a town in Lancashire, within the borough of Hyndburn. It lies about east of Blackburn, west of Burnley, north of Manchester city centre and is situated on the mostly culverted River Hyndburn...
and Radcliffe
Radcliffe Power Station
Radcliffe Power Station was a coal-fired power station in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, England.-History:The station was opened on 9 October 1905 by the Earl of Derby. It generated electricity using two 1.5 megawatt turbo generating sets made by British Thomson-Houston...
. A further 12,500 kW alternator was ordered and eventually installed by 1929. The two sets were later rated at 7,500 and 15,625 kW. By 1940 Padiham was supplying loads at Padiham (7,600 kW), Nelson
Nelson, Lancashire
Nelson is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England, with a population of 28,998 in 2001. It lies 4 miles north of Burnley on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal....
and Colne
Colne
Colne is the second largest town and civil parish in the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England, with a population of 20,118. It lies at the eastern end of the M65, 6 miles north-east of Burnley, with Nelson immediately adjacent, in the Aire Gap with two main roads leading into the Yorkshire...
(20,500 kW) and Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
(20,500 kW). Two more 12,500 kW alternators were ordered. 70 million units per year at 20% load factor were being generated and in 1942/3 two more boilers were being installed.
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 LEP 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. Padiham power station became part of the North Western Electricity Board (NWEB). 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:...
.
In 1957 a 240MW station, Padiham "B", was authorised with the first unit of 120MW commissioned in 1962. In 1964 a Padiham "C" was proposed but not built. Padiham "A" closed in 1969. In 1971 some oil firing and orimulsion
Orimulsion
Orimulsion is a registered trademark name for a bitumen-based fuel that was developed for industrial use by Intevep, the Research and Development Affiliate of Petroleos de Venezuela SA , following earlier collaboration on oil emulsions with British Petroleum.-Source of the bitumen:Like coal and...
was proposed at one stage but it seems only coal and petrocoke
Petroleum coke
Petroleum coke is a carbonaceous solid derived from oil refinery coker units or other cracking processes. Other coke has traditionally been derived from coal....
were ever used. By 1984 the station was generating 15 million MW hours.
In 1993 the last load of coal was delivered and Padiham "B" ceased generation on 31 March.
The power station is also notable for being used in a minor capacity during the filming of science fiction comedy series Red Dwarf in the 1990s
Redevelopment
Although the rail line had closed for passengers connecting Padiham railway stationPadiham railway station
Padiham railway station in Station Street, Padiham, Lancashire, England was on a branch line of the East Lancashire Line from Burnley to Blackburn.-History:The line between Padiham and Rose Grove opened in 1875...
to Burnley and Blackburn in 1957, the section to the power station was retained for coal deliveries. Part of it was under consideration by Lancashire County Council
Lancashire County Council
Lancashire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire, England. It currently consists of 84 councillors, and is controlled by the Conservative Party, who won control of the council in the local council elections in June 2009, ending 28 years of...
as a rural walk in 2008. The weir constructed to provide cooling water for the plant was also under consideration for partial removal to provide a canoe slalem and aid fish, salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
and trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
, trying to reach the upper part of the river. The Environment Agency
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
believes that the quality of the Calder is now of a standard that can support these fish. The project is a joint fish pass and canoe run. Fish movement upstream will open up opportunities for course and game fishing in the rural areas up stream. The works to remove the derelict weir will see the final stage of the reclamation of the former power station and the work is complimentary to the county’s developing land reclamation programme.
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
- National Grid (UK)