FW: Draft Historic England guidance on recording post-war power stations

[Iain Stuart]

I got thie notice via another discussion group and I thought it might be of interest to members who might have to deal with power stations

 

Dr Iain Stuart

 

JCIS Consultants

P.O. Box 2397

Burwood North

NSW 2134

Australia

 

(02) 97010191

Iain_...@optusnet.com.au

 

*With traditional apologies for posting on multiple jiscmail lists*

 

Over the last few years we have been considering the extent to which post-war coal- and oil-fired power stations have historic and architectural interest.

 

When assessing buildings for listing, we are particularly careful when it comes to those built after 1945. At this time, protection of these power stations by listing, and of any associated designed landscaped by registration, is very unlikely.

 

Historic England, however, recognises the important role these power stations played in meeting the nation’s energy needs during the 20th century, their high technological interest and wider landscape impact.

 

We have drafted a set of historic recording guidelines to help those of you developing a heritage strategy during decommissioning. We envisage that this document will be useful for developing a brief for qualified historic building contractors.

 

We are consulting directly with the main power companies. We would also value your views on the proposed methodology and on all elements of the draft guidelines. The consultation is open until Monday 23rd November.

 

Please make responses by Monday 23 November to Susie....@HistoricEngland.org.uk

Postal responses can be sent to Susie Barson, Historic England, 1 Waterhouse Square, London, EC1N 2ST.

To view the draft guidance document and find out more about the consultation please see the link to the Historic England website below:

 

https://historicengland.org.uk/about/what-we-do/consultations/guidance-open-for-consultation/

 

 

Kind regards

 

Robin Page

Heritage Protection Programmes Online Coordinator

Research Group

Direct Dial: 01793 414617

 

http://www.historicengland.org.uk/about/what-we-do/action-plan/

 

 

 

 

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[Ray Christison]

Perhaps this needs further discussion. I see four aspects of a power station and its curtilage that should be considered:

1. Power station buildings.
2. Power station systems ie generating systems, coal handling plant, ash handling plant, cooling plant – When I was on the Decommissioned Power Stations Committee (NSW) one of the agreements sitting around White Bay was that the systems should be kept in place.
3. Ancillary structures – mostly associated with systems.
4. Major artworks associated with power stations. It was common for authorities like The Electricity Commission of NSW to commission a significant artwork to accompany the commissioning of a new power station. Munmorah Power Station (due for demolition) has a major ceramic artwork in its entry foyer. I am sure this work would rank as one of the great postwar ceramic artworks created in Australia.
5. Landscapes and gardens. Many power stations had substantial gardens around their administration blocks. Wallerawang Power Station’s multi award winning gardens were completely obliterated in the 1990s as part of a cost reduction drive.
   

Keep smiling
Ray Christison
Managing Director
High Ground Consulting
www.higround.com.au
0419 438 609



On 28/10/2015 1:16 pm, "John Pickard" <john.p...@bigpond.com> wrote:

Interesting stuff Iain.
 
I think that the nouns “building” and “power station” could be replaced with “structure” and be a more accurate description of the problem, especially in Australia. But anyone with one yoctogram of nous knows that!
 
When assessing buildings structures for listing, we are particularly careful when it comes to those built after 1945. At this time, protection of these power stations structures by listing, and of any associated designed landscaped by registration, is very unlikely.


Cheers, John

John Pickard
john.p...@bigpond.com