Building that has power to impress
IT’S been an instantly recognisable building for more than 100 years in Stockport - but many people do not know that it provides the power for 10,000 nearby homes.
The Grade II listed Heaton Moor Substation was commemorated with its own plaque on Friday.
The Heaton Moor Road building was built in a Baroque style in 1902 and originally also provided power for trams.
It is hailed as one of the most ornate substations in the country, so the Heatons Heritage Society and Electricity North West decided it should be honoured.
Phil Rowbotham, chairman of the society, said: “It is very rare for a substation to receive this recognition but Grade II listed buildings are quite important.
“It is an impressive building but a lot of the people who live in the Heatons don’t know what it is. The plaque will tell them.
“The building is big and there are very few similar ones in the country that house substations.”
Manchester Corporation Electric Works built the substation while King Edward VII was on the throne. At the time it was one of 73 power supplies in the north west of England.
Councillor Philip Harding approached the Heatons Heritage Society with the idea and the group in turn asked Electricity North West, who agreed to fund the plaque.
It was created by Leander Architectural, who incorporated four ‘H’s’ into the design to represent each of the four Heatons covered by the society.
Mark Williamson, operations director for Electricity North West, who lives in Heaton Mersey, said: “We’re proud that this fantastic building which has been a key feature in the area for more than a hundred years and which is still powering the local community today has been honoured.
“It is amazing to think of how much has changed since the building was first constructed.
“From the beginning of the electricity distribution network to how much we now rely on electricity, from charging our phones and cars to warming our homes.
“We are delighted the building has been commemorated in this way.”