Croydon Power Station
Encyclopedia
The Croydon power stations refers to a pair of demolished coal-fired power stations
and to a gas
-fired power station in the Purley Way
area of Croydon
, London. The coal-fired stations operated from 1896 until 1984, and the gas-fired station opened in 1999. Croydon B power station's chimneys have been retained as a local landmark.
. The generating equipment at the station was replaced in 1924, when low pressure equipment of 21 megawatts (MW) and high pressure equipment of 29 MW was installed, giving the station a generating capacity of 50 MW. This corresponded with the arrival of English Electric
locomotive No.692, which used an overhead wire electric system, for the shunting of coal. In 1959 this was replaced by a steam locomotive from Littlebrook Power Station
, built by W. G. Bagnall in 1946. In 1970, Croydon A was rarely active and was one of the few power stations in the country to still use wooden cooling towers. It operated until 1973.
. However, these plans were delayed by World War II. Immediately after the end of the war, construction work began on the new station. The station was built by Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons, who also used two locomotives during the construction work; the first was Hudswell Clarke
No.82, used between 1946 and 1948, the second was Hudswell Clarke No.55, used for the remainder of 1948. The station was finally opened in 1950.
The station originally had a generating capacity of 198 MW, but in the 1960s, a 140 MW gas turbine was installed at for peak use, bringing the generating capacity up to 338 MW.
Once delivered to the station, coal was shunted by locomotives. Croydon B had a fleet of three shunting locomotives, all built by Peckett and Sons
with the works numbers No.2103, No.2104 and No.2105. These three steam locomotives were superseded by diesels in the 1960s.
Coal was originally brought to the station by rail, but during the 1970s coal was shipped down the coast from Northumberland to Kingsnorth
and then transported to Croydon in up to twenty-five 10 ton lorries per day.
It was decommissioned in 1984, and in a disused state was used in the filming of parts of Terry Gilliam's
1985 film Brazil
. The station was demolished in 1991 and an IKEA
store was opened on the site. Two large chimneys were retained and remain a local landmark.
Whilst it was being demolished a local band immortalised the power station, naming themselves after it. They had limited local success with whimsical tunes sending up local characters of the Croydon area. Croydon B on MySpace
. The iconic towers which still stand to this day, are used by IKEA, who have based a store adjacent to them and now advertise on them. The towers have been a guide to customers who have tried to get to IKEA, as they can be seen from miles away.
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...
and to a gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
-fired power station in the Purley Way
Purley Way
Purley Way is a section of the A23 trunk road in the London Borough of Croydon, in the areas of Purley, Waddon and West Croydon, and has given its name to the out-of-town shopping area alongside it with a catchment area covering most of South London. It was designed as a bypass for Croydon and was...
area of Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, London. The coal-fired stations operated from 1896 until 1984, and the gas-fired station opened in 1999. Croydon B power station's chimneys have been retained as a local landmark.
Croydon A
The first power station built on the site, which would later become known as Croydon A power station, was opened in 1896. The station was built near Croydon Gas Works by the Croydon CorporationCounty Borough of Croydon
Croydon was a local government district in north east Surrey, England from 1849 to 1965.-History:A local board of health was formed for the parish of Croydon St John the Baptist in 1849. On March 9, 1883 the town received a charter of incorporation to become a municipal borough...
. The generating equipment at the station was replaced in 1924, when low pressure equipment of 21 megawatts (MW) and high pressure equipment of 29 MW was installed, giving the station a generating capacity of 50 MW. This corresponded with the arrival of English Electric
English Electric
English Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers...
locomotive No.692, which used an overhead wire electric system, for the shunting of coal. In 1959 this was replaced by a steam locomotive from Littlebrook Power Station
Littlebrook Power Station
Littlebrook Power Station refers to a series of four oil and coal-fired power stations situated on the south bank of the River Thames, next to the Queen Elizabeth 2 Bridge and the Dartford Tunnel in Dartford, Kent.-Littlebrook A:...
, built by W. G. Bagnall in 1946. In 1970, Croydon A was rarely active and was one of the few power stations in the country to still use wooden cooling towers. It operated until 1973.
Croydon B
Planning for a Croydon B power station was begun in 1939, with the architecture designed by Robert AtkinsonRobert Atkinson (architect)
Robert Atkinson, OBE was an English architect primarily working in the Art Deco style.Atkinson was born in Wigton, Cumberland and studied at University College, Nottingham before studying abroad in Paris, Italy and America. He was a talented draughtsman and worked for C.E. Mallows from 1905...
. However, these plans were delayed by World War II. Immediately after the end of the war, construction work began on the new station. The station was built by Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons, who also used two locomotives during the construction work; the first was Hudswell Clarke
Hudswell Clarke
Hudswell, Clarke and Company Limited was an engineering and locomotive building company in Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:...
No.82, used between 1946 and 1948, the second was Hudswell Clarke No.55, used for the remainder of 1948. The station was finally opened in 1950.
The station originally had a generating capacity of 198 MW, but in the 1960s, a 140 MW gas turbine was installed at for peak use, bringing the generating capacity up to 338 MW.
Once delivered to the station, coal was shunted by locomotives. Croydon B had a fleet of three shunting locomotives, all built by Peckett and Sons
Peckett and Sons
Peckett and Sons was a locomotive manufacturer at the Atlas Works in St. George, Bristol, England.-Fox, Walker and Company:The company began trading in 1864 at the Atlas Engine Works, St. George, Bristol, as Fox, Walker and Company, building four and six-coupled saddle tank engines for industrial use...
with the works numbers No.2103, No.2104 and No.2105. These three steam locomotives were superseded by diesels in the 1960s.
Coal was originally brought to the station by rail, but during the 1970s coal was shipped down the coast from Northumberland to Kingsnorth
Kingsnorth power station
Kingsnorth is a dual-fired coal and oil power station on the Hoo Peninsula at Medway in Kent, South East England. The four-unit station is owned and operated by energy firm E.ON UK, and has a generating capacity of 1,940 megawatts. It is capable of operating on either coal or oil though in practice...
and then transported to Croydon in up to twenty-five 10 ton lorries per day.
It was decommissioned in 1984, and in a disused state was used in the filming of parts of Terry Gilliam's
Terry Gilliam
Terrence Vance "Terry" Gilliam is an American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam is also known for directing several films, including Brazil , The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , The Fisher King , and 12 Monkeys...
1985 film Brazil
Brazil (film)
Brazil is a 1985 British science fiction fantasy/black comedy film directed by Terry Gilliam. It was written by Gilliam, Charles McKeown, and Tom Stoppard and stars Jonathan Pryce. The film also features Robert De Niro, Kim Greist, Michael Palin, Katherine Helmond, Bob Hoskins, and Ian Holm...
. The station was demolished in 1991 and an IKEA
IKEA
IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
store was opened on the site. Two large chimneys were retained and remain a local landmark.
Whilst it was being demolished a local band immortalised the power station, naming themselves after it. They had limited local success with whimsical tunes sending up local characters of the Croydon area. Croydon B on MySpace
Gas-fired station
In 1999 permission was given for an 80 MW gas-fired station at the gas-holder site at Factory Road, about half a mile to the south-east of the 'B' station site.51.37644°N 0.11637 °WThe Valley Park Retail and Leisure Complex
In 1992, the area was regenerated into what is now known as the Valley Park Retail and Leisure ComplexValley Park Retail Area
Valley Park Retail and Leisure Complex is a retail park in the Purley Way retail and industrial area of the London Borough of Croydon. Valley Park was opened in 1992 on the site of the former Croydon 'B' Power Station which was built in the late 1940s and opened in 1950. The power plant shut down...
. The iconic towers which still stand to this day, are used by IKEA, who have based a store adjacent to them and now advertise on them. The towers have been a guide to customers who have tried to get to IKEA, as they can be seen from miles away.