Description and History of Site:-
A modern (1998) electricity generating station still occupies the site (2018).
Built by the Yorkshire Electric Power Company as their first generating station. The original generating equipment consisted of three 1.5 MW British-Thompson-Houston (BTH) vertical turbo-alternator sets generating at 50 cycles and 11 kV, unusually high for the time. The steam, at 150 psi and 466 deg. Fahr. was developed in four coal-fired Babcock water tube boilers. By 1915, the increased demands for electricity resulted in the addition of two further 6 MW BTH generating sets and the construction of a second boiler house. The original sets were retained for standby use only. In 1925 there were further major additions leading to a general re-modelling of the station. A third boiler house was built and in the extended turbine hall two 12.5 MW Parsons turbo-alternators were installed running on steam at 200 psi and up to 650 deg. Fahr. The No. 3 boiler house contained three Babcock and Wilcox and one Clayton and Shuttleworth water tube boilers all with chain-grate mechanical stokers.

In 1952, under the British Electricity Authority, consent was given for installation of a boiler, 45 MW turbo-alternator and cooling tower. By 1967, the overall capacity of Thornhill was said to be 186 MW consisting of two 30 MW and three 45 MW sets, all by English Electric.

The development of the site can be quite clearly followed on the OS 25" mapping of 1905, 1915 and 1937.

Further Reading and References:-
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Thornhill_Power_Station

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Key Words :- electricity generation power station coal

Address :- Calder Road, Dewsbury , West Yorkshire, WF12 9EA
Grid Ref :- SE 2286 2010
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.676871 , Long -1.655417
Local Authority :- Kirklees Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site demolished or no longer extant
Site Condition :- Operational site, in use for original purpose
Site Dates :- 1902 - 1982
Record Date :- 10 September 2018

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Nick Nelson