Battersea Powerstation
Tuesday, 19th July 2005 by James Turnbull
Battersea Powerstation was constructed in the early 1930s but has been disused since the late 70s. Designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (who also designed the classic red phoneboxes) the power station is probably most famous for starring alongside an inflatable pig on the cover of Pink Floyd's album, 'Animals'.
Since they pulled out the generating equipment there has been no roof on the building so we can see right into the middle, which could easily house Trafalgar Square and St Paul's Cathedral (it's one of the largest brick structures in Europe). Soon it will all be gone to make way for trendy apartments, posh hotels and sculptured gardens. For more info and ground level panoramas see the BBC site.
Thanks: Reagan Blundell, Bertrand Capo, Wayne, GazH (UK), Richard Wild, russ, Charles Chow & Andy
I hope they do complete this project — there seems to be some doubt about the developers’ ability to do so. But since the Bankside Power Station (also by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott) was converted into the Tate Modern with such success, maybe this one will be successfully completed, too.
Thanks for the pointer to the BBC site. I had no idea of the Art Deco interior. Pretty cool.
Wikipedia has good info about how the inflatable pig escaped and flew to Germany: it was great publicity..
Lol! Thanks Stu, that was hilarious 😀
Another big red brick building (reputed to be the largest in Europe but I haven’t been able to confirm it) is Fort Dunlop in Birmingham.
View Placemark
Is that a blue airplane in/over the parking lot, just to the south?
I think this is the largest red brick structure in Europe if not the world – View Placemark Stockport Viaduct in, Stockport Greater Manchester.
Just another brick in the wall.
“Soon it will all be gone” makes it sound like it will be demolished! Unless you’re referring to the huge open space. Of course, the Grade II listsed structure is going to be turned into the entertainment complex you describe. The first project went bust (but only after removing the roof!) so let’s hope the new developers have more success!
Giles Gilbert Scott also designed Liverpool Anglican Cathedral (no hi-res shot, but see here: http://jonathan.rawle.org/gallery/liverpool/ ) while his grandfather desiged the Midland hotel at the front of St Pancras station: View Placemark
Wasn’t the power station also in a quick, but funny, scene from “Help!” (the Beatles flick)?
Battersea Power Station was the setting of the Battle of Bosworth Field scene in Ian McKellan’s film of Richard III, which is definitely worth seeing.
I just found some proof for my Stockport Viaduct claims: taken from wikipedia:
“The viaduct, built in 1842, is the largest free-standing brick structure in Europe, containing a total of eleven million bricks.”
That’s a lot of bricks, bricks fans.
Currently being de- towered. Eventually. All 4 still up. Scaffolding inching up one.
As for biggest red brick structure: some people build some huge red brick BBQs in gardens these days!
A gypsy curse on our Ken if it doesn’t reappear as is but cleaner.