New Fields for Industry - an industrial handbook of North East Lancashire, c1955 - Padiham and Huncoat power station
A fascinating "official handbook" of the style produced usually for individual councils, this c1955 book was issued as part of the drive to attract new industries to the North East Lancashire Development Area. The area was one of a number designated under Government powers that were embodied in the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, that was intended to assist 'declining areas' as well as attempting to spread the growing 'light' industries more equitably across the UK. It allowed the Board of Trade to construct factories for lease and to make loans for the development of such facilities as industrial estates as well as improving 'basic services' such as transport, power, housing health and the reclaimation of derelict land.
The North East Lancashire area consisted of Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Barrowfield, Brierfield, Padiham, Trawden, parts of the Rural District of Burnley and even across the County boundary to include Barnoldswick, Earby and Salterforth in West Yorkshire. Some large companies did indeed relocate works and plant here, including Lucas Industries, British Thomson-Houston and Platers & Stampers. The latter was best known as the manufacturers of the Prestige range of kitchen goods.
One of the services that the guide, and indeed the Development Area, pushed was the availability of power (both electrical and gas) and these photos show two power stations. The bottom photo shows the Padiham Power Generating station, known as Padiham A and constructed by the Lancashire Electric Power Company and that opened in pre-nationalisation days, in 1926 - 28. A 'selected' station for the new National Grid system, the station was linked across the LEP network and supplied bulk loads to other undertakings.
By 1957 the British Electric Authority (that had in 1955 become the Central Electricity Authority) had authorised a second station, Padiham B, and this was commissioned in 1962. Both stations were coal fired, intended to use locally produced fuel, and A station closed in 1969 and B ceased generation in 1993.
The upper photo seems to be incorrectly captioned as it appears - see below - that it is Huncoat Power Station. This was planned by the municipal undertaking of Accrington Corporation and indeed, months before nationalisation, work on site commenced in January 1948 but it came into commission under the British Electricity Authority in 1952. The station closed in 1984.
New Fields for Industry - an industrial handbook of North East Lancashire, c1955 - Padiham and Huncoat power station
A fascinating "official handbook" of the style produced usually for individual councils, this c1955 book was issued as part of the drive to attract new industries to the North East Lancashire Development Area. The area was one of a number designated under Government powers that were embodied in the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, that was intended to assist 'declining areas' as well as attempting to spread the growing 'light' industries more equitably across the UK. It allowed the Board of Trade to construct factories for lease and to make loans for the development of such facilities as industrial estates as well as improving 'basic services' such as transport, power, housing health and the reclaimation of derelict land.
The North East Lancashire area consisted of Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Barrowfield, Brierfield, Padiham, Trawden, parts of the Rural District of Burnley and even across the County boundary to include Barnoldswick, Earby and Salterforth in West Yorkshire. Some large companies did indeed relocate works and plant here, including Lucas Industries, British Thomson-Houston and Platers & Stampers. The latter was best known as the manufacturers of the Prestige range of kitchen goods.
One of the services that the guide, and indeed the Development Area, pushed was the availability of power (both electrical and gas) and these photos show two power stations. The bottom photo shows the Padiham Power Generating station, known as Padiham A and constructed by the Lancashire Electric Power Company and that opened in pre-nationalisation days, in 1926 - 28. A 'selected' station for the new National Grid system, the station was linked across the LEP network and supplied bulk loads to other undertakings.
By 1957 the British Electric Authority (that had in 1955 become the Central Electricity Authority) had authorised a second station, Padiham B, and this was commissioned in 1962. Both stations were coal fired, intended to use locally produced fuel, and A station closed in 1969 and B ceased generation in 1993.
The upper photo seems to be incorrectly captioned as it appears - see below - that it is Huncoat Power Station. This was planned by the municipal undertaking of Accrington Corporation and indeed, months before nationalisation, work on site commenced in January 1948 but it came into commission under the British Electricity Authority in 1952. The station closed in 1984.