Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Power supplies

OK, here's a little puzzle for you; also a short science lesson!

When I was a kid, my Grandfather used to work for the local electricity board at the place in the picture. Later, When he became unwell, his bosses gave him the job of travelling round the sub-stations, looking after the gardens. I sometimes went with him. The inside of those sub-stations scared the s**t out of me. Here's a pic. of one in Noctorum, at the junction of Noctorum Rd. & West Rd.
Now for the science: in those days (1940's) the power supply to the houses was DC. You can only transmit DC just over a mile before losses in the cable make it useless, so power was generated in AC & sent at high voltage (so few losses) to the many sub-stations, where it was reduced in voltage with transformers & then fed into mercury vapour rectifiers to change it into DC to be supplied to houses. It was those rectifiers which scared me; about 4 Ft. tall, a huge glass bulb with mercury in & glowing a terrible purple with the mercury vapour & emitting a loud humming. There's still some of these sub-stations around. You can see the remains of one at the top of Singleton Ave. & the one in Noctorum looks the same as it ever did.
It was because our power supply was DC that I could never have a Hornby Dublo electric train set. I guess the power supply was about 200 Volts & you couldn't use a transformer to reduce it.
BTW, in those days, there was nothing like MANWEB; the National Grid was in its infancy & each town generated its own electricity supply. The power station pictured was owned by Birkenhead Council, which is why it has the town crest over it.
Does anyone know where it is?

Cheers, Chris.

Some great info there; I think you have mentioned this once before, maybe at a meet.

I dunno where the power station is though, maybe down Woodside way, but deffo could'nt be sure or give an exact location.

Yeah, Matt; I expect you've heard my ravings before (it's a function of age) If nobody can say where it is, I'll tell in a week or so.

Cheers, Chris.

Birkenhead - just off Exmouth St

Oi! I was going to take a picture of this the other day.

I used to play in there as a kid, but the other bit of the building has been knocked down now.

It's in Bentick Street

The back of it is on Craven Street and the bit that has now been knocked down was on Fox Street.

...thats just off Exmouth St - do i get a prize

you get a super soaker and a chick in a white t-shirt of your choice

Yes, Joe, you're right, but your pointer is a bit off. NO prizes for Exmouth St.
Now try the sunblinds one!

Some detective work says its in Westbourne Road, Birkenhead

Do I get a prize for that one?

I've corrected the pointer Chris

lol i was there the other day at the computer supplies shop looking for a scanner and didnt even see it .good write up chris another of your little gems and well discovered joe

The sub-station at the top of Singleton Avenue was open today - they wouldn't let me inside but gave me the ok to take a picture from the doorway. When I was young there wasn't even a roof on this building. This is just one room in the middle of the building.

Great picture ! Thanks for that. Yes, it's changed a bit over the years !