Battersea Power Station Oct 2023

Having caught sight of the Power Station on a recent trip to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, a group were keen to visit the historic site.

Battersea Power Station was operational from the 1930s to the 1980s. At its peak it produced a fifth of London's power, supplying electricity to some of London's most recognisable landmarks, such as the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace.

Work on the original power station started in 1929. Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, one of the most prominent architects of the day, who also designed Britain’s red telephone boxes, joined the project. The original proposal was for the chimneys to be square rather than circular.

In 1980 the Power Station was awarded Grade II listed status, but stopped generating power in 1983 and fell into total disrepair. It was purchased in 1987 and again in 1993, but it took until 2013 for redevelopment to start.

If you were not able to join KURSA for this visit and would like to go along yourselves, there is lots to see. The 42-acre site contains many restaurants, cafes and shops and a museum which gives the history and explains planned future developments. A lift inside one of the tall chimneys takes you to the very top for panoramic views of the city.