Bristol power stations

Avonbank Feeder Road power station
Avonbank Feeder Road power station
Country	England
Location	Bristol
Coordinates	51°27′00″N02°34′00″W / 51.45000°N 2.56667°W
Status	Decommissioned and demolished
Commission date	1902
Decommission date	1959
Owners	Bristol Corporation (1893–1948), British Electricity Authority (1948–55), Central Electricity Authority (1955–57), Central Electricity Generating Board (1958–59)
Operators	Bristol Corporation (1893–1948), British Electricity Authority (1948–55), Central Electricity Authority (1955–57), Central Electricity Generating Board (1958–59)
Thermal power station
Primary fuel	Coal
Turbine technology	Reciprocating engines and steam turbines
Cooling source	Canal water and cooling tower
Power generation
Units operational	see text
Nameplate capacity	25,890 kW (1923)
Annual net output	48,116 MWh (1923)
	[ edit on Wikidata]

Last updated December 21, 2024

Bristol power stations supplied electricity to the City of Bristol and the surrounding area from 1893 to 1959. Temple Back and Avonbank (Feeder Road) power stations were built by the Bristol Corporation which operated them up to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.

History

Bristol Corporation applied in 1883 for a Provisional Order under the Electric Lighting Acts to generate and supply electricity to the City of Bristol. An Order was granted by the Board of Trade and was confirmed by Parliament through the Electric Lighting Orders Confirmation (No. 9) Act 1883 (46 & 47 Vict. c. ccxxi).^[1] A power station was eventually built in Temple Back south of St Philip's bridge, and was commissioned on 20 August 1893. The electricity plant installed had a generating capacity of 700 kW. The Corporation charged 6d. and 4d./kWh and had 814 customers in 1898.^[2] By 1898 the generating capacity was 1,972 kW, the maximum load was 1,010 kW, and the plant generated a total of 1,163 MWh in 1898. In 1900 a special power tariff of 1 1/2 d./kWh was introduced, and in 1902 a cooker tariff of 1d./kWh.^[3]

The generating station at Temple Back was extended with new plant as demand for electricity grew. However, by 1900 the station was filled to capacity with 18 generators. A new power station, Avonbank, was constructed in Feeder Road (51°27’00”N 02°34’00”W) this was commissioned in 1902. It originally had two 745 kW generating sets. The station's name was changed from Avonbank to Feeder Road in 1916.^[3]

Bristol tramways had an independent electricity generating station in Temple Back north of St Philip's bridge.

The Central Electricity Board built the first stages of the National Grid between 1927 and 1933. Bristol power stations were connected to the electricity grid. Bristol was part of a major 132 kV North–South line from Kilmarnock to Carlisle, Lancaster, Stoke, Bristol and Hayle.^[4] A new power station at Portishead was commissioned in 1929. This was connected to the Feeder Road station through 33 kV cables.^[3]

The British electricity supply industry was nationalised in 1948 under the provisions of the Electricity Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo. 6 c. 54).^[5] The Bristol electricity undertaking was abolished, ownership of Bristol power stations were vested in the British Electricity Authority, and subsequently the Central Electricity Authority and the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB).^[6] At the same time the electricity distribution and sales responsibilities of the Bristol electricity undertaking were transferred to the South Western Electricity Board (SWEB).

Following nationalisation Bristol Feeder Road power station became part of the Bristol electricity supply district.^[7]

Feeder Road power station was closed in 1959.^[3]

Equipment specification

By 1898 the plant in the original Temple Back power station was rated at 1,972 kW and comprised Willans engines coupled directly to Siemens alternators.^[2]

Plant in 1923

By 1923 the plant at Temple Back comprised boilers delivering a total of 53,000 lb/h (6.68 kg/s) of steam to:^[8]

1 × 400 kW reciprocating engine generating alternating current (AC).
2 × 165 kW reciprocating engines generating direct current (DC)
3 × 210 kW reciprocating engines generating DC
1 × 400 kW reciprocating engine generating DC

The total generating capacity was 2,300 kW

By 1923 the plant at Feeder Road comprised boilers delivering a total of 432,000 lb/h (54.4 kg/s) of steam to:^[8]

1 × 600 kW turbine driven alternator generating AC
2 × 750 kW reciprocating engine driven alternators generating AC
3 × 750 kW turbine driven alternators generating AC
1 × 2,000 kW turbine driven alternator generating AC
3 × 3,000 kW turbine driven alternators generating AC
1 × 4,000 kW turbine driven alternator generating AC
1 × 6,000 kW turbine driven alternator generating AC
2 × 165 kW reciprocating engine driven generators generating DC
1 × 210 kW reciprocating engine driven generator generating DC

The total generating capacity was 25,890 kW.

The following electricity supplies were available to consumers:

365 & 210 Volts, 3-phase, 50 Hz AC
210 & 105 Volts, 1-phase, 93 Hz AC
500 & 250 Volts DC

Plant in 1954

By 1954 the plant at Feeder Road comprised:^[7]

Boilers:
- 2 × Vickers 35,000 lb/h (4.41 kg/s) boilers
- 1 × Vickers 80,000 lb/h (10.08 kg/s) boiler

Total evaporative capacity 150,000 lb/h (18.9 kg/s), steam conditions were 200 psi and 570 °F (13.8 bar and 300 °C), steam was supplied to:

Generators:
- 3 × 7.0 MW Vickers turbo-alternators, 3-phase, 50 Hz, 6,600 volts
- 1 × 4.15 MW Vickers turbo-alternator, 3-phase, 50 Hz, 6,600 volts

The total installed capacity was 25.15 MW.

Condenser water was abstracted from the canal, supplemented by a wooden cooling tower.^[7]

Operations

In 1897 Temple Back power station sold 376,490 kWh of electricity, the maximum load was 404 kW.^[2]

In 1911 there were 3,600 customers and the maximum demand was 6,000 kW.^[3]

Operating data 1921–1923

The electricity supply data for the period 1921–23 was:^[8]

Bristol power stations supply data 1921–1923
(Quantities in MWh)
Electricity Use	Year
Electricity Use	1921	1922	1923
Lighting and domestic	10,346	5,908	7,314
Public lighting	1,249	1,132	1,392
Traction	0	0	0
Power	20,585	28,701	33,223
Bulk supply	1,347	1,338	1,287
Total use	33,529	37,079	48,116

Electricity loads on the system were:

Year		1921	1922	1923
Maximum load	kW	14,301	14,812	17,840
Total connections	kW	37,905	44,335	47,253
Load factor	Per cent	32.5	33.9	32.7

Revenue from the sale of current (in 1923) was £336,335; the surplus of revenue over expenses was £132,729.^[8]

Operating data 1946

In 1946 Bristol (Feeder Road) power station supplied 31,078 MWh of electricity; the maximum output load was 29,750 kW.^[9]

Operating data 1954–1958

Operating data for the period 1954–58 was:^[7]

Bristol power station operating data, 1954–1958
Year	Running hours	Max output capacity (MW)	Electricity supplied (MWh)	Thermal efficiency (per cent)
1954	1,049	28	9,002	7.89
1955	1,630	25	18,152	8.66
1956	1,588	25	15,382	8.62
1957	1,219	25	8,574	7.34
1958	215	25	91	0.52

Bristol Electricity District

Following nationalisation in 1948 Bristol power stations including Portishead became part of the Bristol electricity supply district, covering 125.6 square miles (325.3 km²) with a population of 538,300 in 1958. The number of consumers and electricity sold in the Bristol district was:^[7]

Year	1955	1956	1957
Number of consumers	165,305	170,634	175,148
Electricity sold GWh	606.41	665.6	743.6

In 1957 the number of units sold to categories of consumers was:

Type of consumer	No. of consumers	Electricity sold GWh
Household	159,093	234.1
Shops and Offices	17,172	187.0
Factories	1,818	309.5
Farms	491	3.4
Traction	0	0
Public lighting	17	9.6
Total	178,511	743.6

Demolition and reuse

The power station building in Temple Back has been converted to offices. The power station in Feeder Road was demolished and the site is now used for industrial and commercial premises. A National Grid sub-station is extant to the south of the site.

Related Research Articles

The Worcester Power Stations were a series of hydro-electric and coal-fired generating stations providing electricity to the City of Worcester.

Accrington power station was a coal and refuse fired electricity generating station located in the centre of Accrington, Lancashire. The station supplied electricity to Accrington and to Haslingden and the Altham and Clayton-le-Moors areas between 1900 and 1958.

The Lancaster power stations provided electricity to the Lancashire town and city of Lancaster and the surrounding area from 1894 to 1976. The first power station was built and operated by Lancaster Corporation and started generating electricity in April 1894. The second power station was built during the First World War near the Lune Aqueduct to provide electric power for a munitions factory. When the factory closed after the war the power station was purchased by the corporation to provide electric power throughout its supply area.

Derby power station supplied electricity to the city of Derby and the surrounding area from 1893 to 1969. The power station was built and operated by Derby Corporation and started generating electricity in October 1893. It was located in Silkmill Lane in the town centre adjacent to the River Derwent from which it drew its cooling water. The power station was extended in the 1920s and 1940s. It was closed in 1969 and was subsequently demolished.

Huddersfield power station supplied electricity to the town of Huddersfield and the wider area from 1893 to 1981. It was owned and operated by Huddersfield Corporation until the nationalisation of the electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times: including the incorporation of new plant in the 1910s, and in the 1930s to 1950s. The station was decommissioned in October 1981.

Lombard Road power station supplied electricity to the Battersea area of South-East London from 1901 to 1972. It was owned and operated by the Borough of Battersea until the nationalisation of the electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times: including the incorporation of new plant in the 1910s and the 1930s. The station was decommissioned in 1972.

Barrow-in-Furness power station supplied electricity to the town of Barrow-in-Furness and the wider area of Lancashire, England from 1899 to about 1960. It was owned and operated by Barrow-in-Furness Corporation until the nationalisation of the UK electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped throughout its operational life. Barrow-in-Furness Corporation also operated Coniston hydro-electric power station.

Salisbury power station supplied electricity to the English city of Salisbury and the surrounding area from 1898 to c. 1970. It was owned and operated by Salisbury Electric Light and Supply Company Limited prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times to incorporate new plant to replace retired equipment. The facilities included a water driven turbine.

South Shields power station supplied electricity to the borough of South Shields and the surrounding area from 1896 to 1958. It was owned and operated by South Shields Corporation until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was redeveloped several times to meet increasing demand It was decommissioned in 1958.

Burnley power station supplied electricity to the town of Burnley, Lancashire from 1893 to 1958. The electricity station was owned and operated by Burnley Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948. It was redeveloped as demand for electricity grew and old plant was replaced, and had an ultimate generating capacity of 8 MW in the 1920s. The station closed in 1958.

The Cardiff power stations supplied electricity to the City of Cardiff and the surrounding area from 1894 to about 1970. The original power station was in Riverside; a larger replacement station was built in Roath in the 1902, initially to supply the tramway system. They were both owned and operated by Cardiff Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The Roath power station was redeveloped in the 1920s and 1940s to meet the increased demand for electricity.

The Newport power stations supplied electricity to the town of Newport and the surrounding area from 1895 to the late 1970s. The original power station was in Llanarth Street which supplied electric lighting; a larger station, known as the East power station, was built in Corporation Road from 1903. They were owned and operated by Newport Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The East power station was redeveloped in the 1920s and 1940s to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Nelson power station supplied electricity to the town of Nelson, Lancashire and the surrounding area from 1892 to 1960. The power station was owned and operated by Nelson Corporation prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. It was redeveloped in 1922 to 1925 to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Warrington power station supplied electricity to the town of Warrington, Lancashire and the surrounding area from about 1900 to 1979. The power station was initially developed by the Warrington and District Electric Light and Power Company Limited, this was taken over by Warrington Corporation, which operated the power station prior to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. It was redeveloped several times to meet the increased demand for electricity.

St Helens power station supplied electricity to the Borough of St Helens and the surrounding area from 1896 to the late 1960s. The power station was developed by the St Helens Corporation which operated it up to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. It was redeveloped several times to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Wimbledon power station supplied electricity to the Borough of Wimbledon and the surrounding area from 1899 to 1968. The power station was developed by the Wimbledon Corporation which operated it up to 1933. The London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority operated the station from 1933 until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. It was redeveloped by the owners several times to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Southport power station supplied electricity to the town of Southport and the surrounding area from 1894 to the late 1960s. The power station was built by the Southport Corporation which operated it up to the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. Birkdale power station was operated by the Birkdale District Electric Supply Company Limited and originally supplied Birkdale Urban District until the district was incorporated into the Borough of Southport in 1911.

Woking power station supplied electricity to the Borough of Woking and the surrounding area from 1890 to 1960. The power station was operated by the Woking Electric Supply Company Limited until the nationalisation of the British electricity industry in 1948. It was redeveloped after the First World War to meet the increased demand for electricity.

Guildford power station supplied electricity to the town of Guildford and the surrounding area from 1896 to 1967. The power station was built and operated by the Guildford Electricity Supply Company Limited. In 1921 it was acquired by the Guildford Corporation which operated it until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.

Tunbridge Wells power station supplied electricity to the town of Royal Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area from 1895 to 1968. The power station was built by the Tunbridge Wells Corporation which operated it until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948.

References

↑ "Local Acts 1883". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
1 2 3 Garcke, Garcke Emile, ed. (1898). Manual of Electrical Undertakings 1898-99 vol. 3. London: P. S. King and Son. pp. 123–26.
1 2 3 4 5 Peter G. Lamb, Electricity in Bristol 1863-1948, Bristol 1981, 34 pp.
↑ Hannah, Leslie (1979). Electricity before Nationalisation. London: MacMillan. p. 119. ISBN 0333220862.
↑ "Electricity Act 1947". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2020-06-12. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
↑ Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 60–61. ISBN 085188105X.
1 2 3 4 5 Garrett, Frederick C., ed. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-39–40, A-115, B-139–40.
1 2 3 4 Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 18–21, 266–71.
↑ Electricity Commissioners (1947). Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 7.

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[1] "Local Acts 1883". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03. Retrieved 29 December 2021.

[:0-2] 1 2 3 Garcke, Garcke Emile, ed. (1898). Manual of Electrical Undertakings 1898-99 vol. 3. London: P. S. King and Son. pp. 123–26.

[:1-3] 1 2 3 4 5 Peter G. Lamb, Electricity in Bristol 1863-1948, Bristol 1981, 34 pp.

[4] Hannah, Leslie (1979). Electricity before Nationalisation. London: MacMillan. p. 119. ISBN 0333220862.

[5] "Electricity Act 1947". www.legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 2020-06-12. Retrieved 29 December 2021.

[6] Electricity Council (1987). Electricity supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology. London: Electricity Council. pp. 60–61. ISBN 085188105X.

[:2-7] 1 2 3 4 5 Garrett, Frederick C., ed. (1959). Garcke's Manual of Electricity Supply vol. 56. London: Electrical Press. pp. A-39–40, A-115, B-139–40.

[:3-8] 1 2 3 4 Electricity Commissioners (1925). Electricity Supply – 1920–23. London: HMSO. pp. 18–21, 266–71.

[9] Electricity Commissioners (1947). Generation of Electricity in Great Britain year ended 31 December 1946. London: HMSO. p. 7.

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