Hammersmith power station supplied electricity to the London Borough of Hammersmith from 1897 to 1965. It was owned and operated by the Vestry / Borough of Hammersmith until the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry in 1948. The power station was frequently redeveloped with new plant over its operational life to meet increased demands for electricity. It was decommissioned in 1965. History In 1893 the Vestry (parish council) of Hammersmith applied for a Provisional Order under the Electric Lighting Acts to generate and supply electricity to the parish. This was granted by the Board of Trade and was confirmed by Parliament through the Electric Lighting Orders Confirmation (No.3) Act 1893 (56 & 57 Vict. c. xl). The power station was built off Fulham Palace Road, north of Yeldham Road (51°29'24"N 0°13'18"W) and first supplied electricity on 21 June 1897 to a potential population of 104,000 (1898). Equipment specification The original 1898 plant at Hammersmith power station comprised Bellis and McClaren engines directly coupled to Ferranti flywheel disc alternators. The generating capacity and maximum connected load increased as shown: Inter-war plant Following the First World War further new plant was installed to meet growing demand for electricity. By 1923 the generating plant comprised: Coal-fired boilers generating up to 190,000 lb/h (23.9 kg/s) of steam, these supplied steam to: Generators 1 × 1,500 kW steam turbo-alternator 2 × 2,000 kW steam turbo-alternators 1 × 3,000 kW steam turbo-alternator 1 × 10,000 kW steam turbo-alternator These machines gave a total generating capacity of 18,500 kW of alternating current. The plant installed in 1919 included the UK's first large pulverised fuel fired boilers, these were provided on three of the units used a bin feed system. Hydraulic coal delivery was also introduced at Hammersmith. A choice of electricity supplies were available to consumers: 2-phase, 50 Hz AC at 110 and 220 Volts 3-phase, 50 Hz AC at 110 and 220 Volts. New plant 1937 In 1937 the generating capacity of the station was 28,500 kW, the maximum load was 23,850 kW, and the connections on the system were 69.822 MW. By 1954 the plant comprised: Boilers: 1 × 17,000 lb/h (2.1 kg/s) Stirling boilers with chain grate stoker, 2 × 20,000 lb/h (2.5 kg/s) Stirling boilers with chain grate stokers, 1 × 37,000 lb/h (4.7 kg/s) Stirling boilers with chain grate stoker, 3 × 45,000 lb/h (5.7 kg/s) Stirling boilers with chain grate