A tale of two cities: hydroelectricity at Chester and York

Abstract

Two unique low-fall hydroelectric power plants which operated until after the nationalisation of the UK electricity supply industry were built to supply the cities of Chester and York. At Chester, the erection of a hydroelectric power plant at a weir on the River Dee in 1913 provided an attractive alternative to extending the existing thermal station. This scheme was the only one in England dealing with both tidal and head waters. The success of the Chester scheme had considerable influence on the decision to construct a similar plant at York when, in 1918, coal stocks became a cause of anxiety. A hydroelectric power station based on the Chester plan was built in 1923 at Linton Lock on the River Ouse and continued in operation until 1962. It was also considered expedient during the post World War I coal shortage to install two 1200 hp diesel engines and dynamos removed from a German submarine to complement the public electricity supply at York.