Hope's Windows : Catalogue issued by Henry Hope & Sons Ltd., Smethwick, Birmingham, UK : December 1951 : Brunswick Wharf Power Station, Poplar, London
Henry Hope & Sons Ltd were a long established manufacturer of architectural metalware and glazing systems based in Smethwick. Their publications and advertising always met high standards of typography and publishing and this wonderful and substantial book is no exception as it was printed at The Curwen Press in London and demonstrates much of their acknowledged skill.
The catalogue - Publication No. 260, issued in December 1951 - was for drawing office use giving details of specifications, sections and other information and covers a vast number of building types and architectural styles. Needless to say, although Hope's windows were sold for 'older styles' their galvanised steel glazing systems fitted well into modern architectural styles and they produced special systems for large scale projects such as office blocks, factories and power stations.
In post-war Britain the newly nationalised electricity industry was keen to catch up with the replacement of generating stations that wartime delays and use had marked down as in urgent need to replacement as well as carrying on with the move to modern, larger generating stations able to cope with increasing demand for electricity. The British Electricity Authority (later the CEA and then CEGB) inherited schemes planned by pre-nationalisation undertakings as well as designing new stations themselves. The catalogue has a extensive section on power stations as glazing, for light and ventilation as well as for aesthetic reasons, played an increasing role in their designs. Hope's not only specialised in window frames but also the many geared opening and ventilation systems.
Brunswick Wharf, otherwise known as Blackwall power station, was situated on the north bank of the River Thames in east London and was constructed on the site of the old Brunswick Dock. It had been planned pre-WW2 by the Poplar Borough Council's municipal electricity department but work did not commence until 1947 just before the undertaking was nationalised. The first section was commissioned in 1952 and this photo shows it still under construction - a massive brick clad structure that would eventually have two fluted reinforced concrete chimneys and that was designed by architects Farmer and Dark FFRIBA. The consulting engineers were Sir John Bruce & Partners. The station was decommissioned in 1984 and demolished in 1989.
Hope's Windows : Catalogue issued by Henry Hope & Sons Ltd., Smethwick, Birmingham, UK : December 1951 : Brunswick Wharf Power Station, Poplar, London
Henry Hope & Sons Ltd were a long established manufacturer of architectural metalware and glazing systems based in Smethwick. Their publications and advertising always met high standards of typography and publishing and this wonderful and substantial book is no exception as it was printed at The Curwen Press in London and demonstrates much of their acknowledged skill.
The catalogue - Publication No. 260, issued in December 1951 - was for drawing office use giving details of specifications, sections and other information and covers a vast number of building types and architectural styles. Needless to say, although Hope's windows were sold for 'older styles' their galvanised steel glazing systems fitted well into modern architectural styles and they produced special systems for large scale projects such as office blocks, factories and power stations.
In post-war Britain the newly nationalised electricity industry was keen to catch up with the replacement of generating stations that wartime delays and use had marked down as in urgent need to replacement as well as carrying on with the move to modern, larger generating stations able to cope with increasing demand for electricity. The British Electricity Authority (later the CEA and then CEGB) inherited schemes planned by pre-nationalisation undertakings as well as designing new stations themselves. The catalogue has a extensive section on power stations as glazing, for light and ventilation as well as for aesthetic reasons, played an increasing role in their designs. Hope's not only specialised in window frames but also the many geared opening and ventilation systems.
Brunswick Wharf, otherwise known as Blackwall power station, was situated on the north bank of the River Thames in east London and was constructed on the site of the old Brunswick Dock. It had been planned pre-WW2 by the Poplar Borough Council's municipal electricity department but work did not commence until 1947 just before the undertaking was nationalised. The first section was commissioned in 1952 and this photo shows it still under construction - a massive brick clad structure that would eventually have two fluted reinforced concrete chimneys and that was designed by architects Farmer and Dark FFRIBA. The consulting engineers were Sir John Bruce & Partners. The station was decommissioned in 1984 and demolished in 1989.