1. Early Histories
To understand how Bankside and Battersea evolved into the cultural landmarks they are today, it is important to explore their initial programs as power stations. Their industrial narratives are similar: constructed by the London Power Company, formed in 1925 by act of Parliament as a successor to London Electricity Joint Committee (confederation of 10 London electric supply companies), Bankside and Battersea were part of a plan for the “rationalization of the national electricity supply” intended by 1926 Electricity (Supply) Act.[1] Battersea Power Station was one of the first large power stations to be constructed in central London, while was Bankside was the last.[2] They were both constructed on the south bank of the Thames River, in Wandsworth and Southwark respectively, convenient locations for easy access of coal, oil, and cooling water.[3] Giles Gilbert Scott, eminent church architect and designer of London landmarks such as the K9 red telephone booth and Waterloo Bridge, worked on the designs of both power stations, though he had more control over the design of Bankside than he did Battersea.[4]
The two stations were designed to generate power in different ways, with Battersea operating as a coal-burning power plant, and Bankside burning primarily oil to generate power. The amount of emissions produced by the stations were a source of concern for both power stations, and both were fitted with “sulfur-scrubbing” gas filters in order to prevent the spread of more harmful pollutants.[5] For Bankside, the emissions were an architectural as well as a health hazard: many were afraid that the gas generated would stain and damage St. Paul’s Cathedral, which was directly across the Thames (and upwind) of the power station. Battersea would begin generating power in 1933, while still under construction, and Bankside began burning oil two decades later. Both stations would continue to generate power for the city of London until electricity generation in the facilities became too expensive to maintain, and the facilities were shut down in 1983 and 1981 respectively.[6]