Opening of the Company's New Power House at Creekmouth, Barking, by His Majesty King George V on 19th May, 1925

1925. Illustrated with black and white plates and with three fine colour plates from watercolours by Norman Howard, [all the illustrations are high quality and tipped-in], large horizontal octavo, pp 30 + plates, the edges a little foxed, and large but faint foxing on several pages [not unsightly], paperback, yapp edges, in very good condition. In its original plain paper folder which is rather worn, but which has kept the contents very clean. A pencil number on the title page - 498 - may refer to what was obviously a limited printing. What probably makes this copy unique is the inclusion of a copy of the original programme of ceremony and music, a compliments slip, and the original tickets to the site, the Grand Stand and the Tea Tent ! All in very good condition. [The County of London Electric Supply Company Limited (C.L.E.S.Co) was a British electricity undertaking. It was incorporated as a public company in 1891 to generate and supply electricity to parts of south west London and two parishes adjacent to the City of London. It owned and operated power stations at Wandsworth and City Road. From 1925 it cooperated with three other London companies, with the intention of centralising electricity generation in the new, high thermal efficiency, power station at Barking. The companies envisaged that power stations such as Barking would provide enough capacity for their electricity requirements. The site of the power station was chosen for easy delivery of coal from the Thames and by rail, as well as the abundant water supply and space on the site for expansion. A cable tunnel was constructed under the river to supply the south bank with electricity. The Act required equal consideration for the interests of shareholders and consumers. Dividends to shareholders were limited to 7 percent per year and the funds that could be carried forward in the accounts were restricted. Profits above these conditions formed a ‘consumers’ benefit’ in the form of lower prices. The company was abolished in March 1948 upon the nationalisation of the British electricity supply industry. This station and a subsequent one were decommissioned by 1981 and were subsequently demolished.]. First Edition. Paperback in folder. Very Good. Illus. by Norman Howard..