Bringing electricity to Worcester: how city was powered

But for a brief moment let’s return to the days when it was one of the most forward-thinking local authorities in the land.

Back then it contained some really bright sparks, which is a clue that the subject to get councillors so switched on was electricity. Enough already.

Scaffolding 1890s style as workers get stuck in

At the end of the 19th century Worcester became the first municipality in Britain to build and operate on a long-term basis its own hydroelectric power station.

This produced water-generated power that kicked out up to 400kW, by far the largest facility of its kind in the country at the time.

Laying the tracks for the electric trams across Worcester bridge in 1902

In the early 1890s the city had a very dynamic and far-seeing corporation, which invested heavily in the new sensation of electric lighting.

Until then nowhere in Britain had electric lighting been used on a major scale, but Worcester decided to charge on.

Tenders were invited for a scheme to meet an estimated demand equivalent to 14,000 ten candlepower lamps.

It was thought £15,000 would cover the cost, but not for the last time in Guildhall budgeting that figure proved to fall way short.

Lovely old photo of Powick Power Station viewed through the arch of the river Teme bridge

Soon Mr EG Preece, the GPO’s chief electrician, arrived in Worcester, had a look around and reckoned £40,000 would be nearer the mark.

He suggested water power from Diglis Weir be harnessed, but the Severn Commissioners, who ran the river in those days, proved to be far less enlightened and put so many obstacles in the way, it was decided to go to the River Teme and Powick instead.

The interior of Powick Hydroelectric Power Station in the early 1900s. Image courtesy CFOW

In 1893 Worcester City Council purchased Powick Mills from John Wlllis-Bund, a wealthy local landowner and lawyer, for £5,000 and entered into an agreement with the Brush Electrical Engineering Company to convert the building into a combined steam and water power plant for £21,005.

There was a street lighting addition of £19,970 and the station began supplying current in November 1894.

In 1895 the output from water and steam was 340,000 units and by 1900 this had risen to 840,00.

This was enough to power 27 arc lamps in Worcester’s six central streets and current was also supplied at 5d per unit for lighting to 502 private customers.

Worcester Cross in 1905 shortly after the electric tramway system began operating

In November, 1902 a second generating station was built in Hylton Road costing £7,180 to supply current to the city’s new electric tramway system, which began operating in 1904.

The steam plant at Powick closed down in the late 1920s and that section of the building was taken over by the Metropole Laundry. However the hydroelectric part continued to operate until 1950, when the turbines and generating machinery were removed.

Worcester Power Station in Hylton Road. Photo taken across Cripplegate Park in the 1950s

Today the old building has been converted into luxury riverside apartments and only the  mighty power station chimney remains. A landmark on the west side of Worcester and a reminder of a time when city councillors shone a light across the nation.