Powick Mills is one of Worcestershire’s most recognisable landmarks. Reporter Tom Banner looks at its history.

When it was built in 1894, it was the first hydroelectric power station to be built in Britain, and at one time powered most of Worcester.

In December 1882, the site of the old mills which had stood in Powick for centuries was purchased for the sum of £5,000. Construction of the building cost around £15,000 and a tender was accepted for £23,000 from the Brush Electrical Engineering Company to supply and install generators. The plans for the building were to install four water-powered turbines with a steam powered back-up.

Work began on the site in 1893 despite being initially hampered by heavy rains which caused flooding and landslides, causing the contracting company to build a temporary dam to control the floodwater.

Almost a year later, mayor of Worcester G R Williamson inaugurated the system with an evening banquet for 300 guests following the switching on of street lamps in High Street, Foregate Street, Broad Street, St Swithin’s Street and the old Corn Market.

Despite the hopeful start, the project was not successful, running a loss of more than £3,000 in the first year of operation.

The power station’s annual reports from 1895, 1896 and 1897 all described it as “hydroelectrically unsuccessful.”

Eventually the death-knell came for Powick Mills with the turn of the 20th Century when a new tram system was built in Worcester by the British Electric Traction Company.

To cope with the increasing needs of the city, a new steam-powered electricity station was built in Hylton Road and there was no further scope for development at Powick.

Powick Mills carried on generating electricity through the First World War but by 1925 it generated less than seven per cent of the city’s electricity needs, meaning that by the 1930s it was closed down.

The building remained in use by general engineers for several decades until an ambitious plan was approved by Worcester City Council in 1990 when councillors voted 7-3 in favour of turning it into 11 luxury apartments.

At the time, Conservative councillor Ann Brock considered it “a truly imaginative and exciting scheme”.

Powick Mills continues in its new housing role, and director Juliet Wallace-Mason described the challenges faced when maintaining the building.

She said: “I take my role as director very seriously to maintain this site for future generations.The chimney is one of our big concerns to maintain and make sure it is done properly. We have to ensure the lightning conductors are set up properly which takes a lot of effort.

“Other than that we do a lot of work on the grounds to make sure they are neat and tidy for residents, ramblers and dog walkers. I hope that in 100 years time it is going to look as perfect as it should – it is a vital part of our heritage.”

Another big issue faced at Powick Mills is that of flooding. Recent changes to the road layout and work by the Environment Agency has changed the flow of water to the area, meaning that after heavy rain, water levels around the building can be unusually high.

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