expressions relating to madness or stupidity. Before he became England's most famous composer, in 1879 at the age of 22 Edward Elgar was appointed bandmaster of the asylum until about 1886, and wrote compositions for the asylum's band. Victorian power station A former water mill, next to Powick Bridge, was converted in 1894 to become the world's first combined steam/hydro electric power station. Electricity from this mill provided about half the city of Worcester's needs. The Powick site continued generating until the 1950s. When it closed, it was converted into a laundry and has since been converted into residential apartments. The site was chosen as a mill site from at least the 11th century, and very probably earlier than that. The mill leat was dug in 1291. A succession of water mills replaced each other throughout the Middle Ages and into the 16th century and later. The mill is a Grade II Listed Building. Notable residents John Wall, physician, was born at Powick in 1708. James Piers St Aubyn, architect, was born at Powick Vicarage in 1815 Lord Alfred Douglas, lover of Oscar Wilde, was born at Ham Hill House in 1870. Gallery References External links Powick parish community web site Powick primary school Worcester Museum website - page including Powick Mills British history online entry Bell-ringing in Powick Powick watercolours of Burney Villages in Worcestershire Civil parishes in Worcestershire