Supplied by Duncan Kirkwood
By Colin Stott
Mr Kirkwood's late uncle, Francis G Sargent, was employed by the Central Electricity Generating Board as a structural engineer, and was closely involved with the design and construction of South Denes Power Station from 1954 until 1958.
He passed on a portfolio of photos of South Denes Power Station taken during its construction in 1955 to 1958 some of which are shown here. The colour photo was used for the cover of the official brochure for the opening on 26 September 1958.
Duncan writes:-
'There must be many former employees with memories of the complex including Harry McGee, the former mayor.
'I can also add some of my own memorie, for example the names of the small oil tankers (Petworth, Midhurst, and Stanstead and maybe a couple more as well) which shipped the oil to power the station. As I recall, these vessels were all named after Sussex towns ... but so far I can't find Stanstead Sussex?
'I would always look out of my bedroom window to see which way the smoke was blowing out of the power station chimney, thus ascertaining if it was going to be a 'difficult' or an 'assisted' bike ride down Southtown Road to school - and if it was worth going fishing, namely if there was a westerly wind!'
Colour photograph of South Denes Power Station, used for the cover of the official brochure
CEGB - courtesy of Duncan Kirkwood
Photograph showing the construction of the South Denes Power Station, 1954-1958
CEGB - courtesy of Duncan Kirkwood
Photograph of completed South Denes Power Station, 1958
CEGB - courtesy of Duncan Kirkwood
Photograph of South Denes Power Station from Gorleston side of the River Yare
Photograph of South Denes Power Station taken from the air - after 1958
CEGB - courtesy of Duncan Kirkwood