Campaigners celebrate after saving historic Chester building

Dec 17 2008 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

CAMPAIGNERS have erected a plaque in commemoration of their successful fight to save the facade of an historically important Chester building.

The 112-year-old building had been due to be demolished after planning chiefs originally decided the Electric Lighting Station in New Crane Street was not worth saving as part of The Old Port redevelopment.

But the Canal Basin Community Forum, supported by former city councillor Steve Davies, collected hundreds of names for a petition and were eventually successful in seeing the facade preserved in 1999. It was renovated by George Wimpey North West Ltd.

The Electric Lighting Station, designed by I Matthews Jones, was built in 1896 and featured three steam-powered generators providing direct current with any surplus stored in batteries. The station lit the city streets, The Rows, shops and homes at a cost of 6d per unit.

After consulting with the famous physicist Lord Kelvin, the station was opened under Professor Kennedy and later run by the city electrical engineers F Thursfield – until 1904 – and SE Britton until 1946.

Because electricity was in heavy demand, the station was enlarged and, in 1913, was linked to the hydro-electric power station by the Old Dee Bridge. By 1923, Queensferry power station took over electric supply.

The full history of the building can be read in the book Chester Electric Lighting Station available at bookshops or in the library or Chester Heritage Centre.