A temple of power
Battersea power station
This power station has iconic status for Pink Floyd fans because it featured on the cover of their 'Animals' album. To the general public in London it has long been a symbol of the electricity industry. The power station supplied London with electricity from 1937 to 1980 but is now derelict.
Towers over London
The power station stands across the river from Victoria station. Its four white chimneys are a famous landmark.
The building has a steel girder frame surrounding with bricks. It is the largest brick building in Europe.
The architect was Sir Giles Gilbert Scott who also designed the Waterloo Bridge, Liverpool Cathedral and the red telephone box.
At its height the station was two power plants combined. Station A with one turbine hall and two chimneys was completed in 1933. Station B with its second turbine hall and two chimneys was added in 1953.
It was a grand building inside as well as out. The control room was designed in a magnificent Art Deco style. The turbine hall was clad with Italian marble and complete with polished parquet floors and wrought iron staircases
The future for the power station
The power station is just next to Battersea park. There are ambitious plans to redevelop the whole power station site but it is taking a long time to make them a realitly
Submitted by: Andrew Hunt, 22 January 2007
