Trystan Casey
By 1890, electricity was gradually becoming a part of people's lives in London. The world's first coal-fired power station, the Edison Electric Light Station, was built in London in 1882, with the promise of supplying light and warmth to London homes. The power generated by the Holborn Viaduct power station was used for Holborn's newly electrified street lighting, and by the 1890s, the rails of the London Underground were being electrified. Despite this, people still had apprehensions about the potential dangers of electricity, and the adoption of this new technology was gradual and irregular.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electricity in London | In 1882, London built a large-scale power station at Holburn Viaduct. |
| Electricity Usage | The power from Holburn Viaduct was used for street lighting and to power public resources. |
| Public Perception | In the 1890s, people believed electricity could replace gas as a fuel source, but it was also considered dangerous. |
| Electric Traction | In the 1890s, electric traction was being used in London's City and South London railway (now part of the Northern Line). |
| Electric Healing | Some people wore electric jewellery, believing it had healing powers. |
| Electric Chair | In 1890, electricity was used to execute a convicted murderer, William Kemmler, for the first time. |
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What You'll Learn
The Holborn Viaduct power station
In 1890, electricity was being used in London, albeit not on a large scale. The public perception of electricity was that it had the potential to replace gas as a fuel source, but it was also considered dangerous.
The plant began operating on the 12th of January 1882, three years after the invention of the carbon-filament incandescent lightbulb. It burned coal to power a steam engine, which drove a 27-tonne, 125-horsepower generator that produced direct current (DC) at 110 volts. This initially lit 968 16-candle incandescent lamps to provide street lighting from Holborn Circus to St. Martin's Le Grand, and it was later expanded to 3,000 lamps. The power station also supplied electricity to private residences, possibly including nearby Ely Place.
The Holborn Viaduct project was not the first instance of electricity in London. In 1878, the Victoria Embankment was lit with electric lamps using Yablochkov candles, a type of electric carbon arc lamp. The Holborn Viaduct itself had also been briefly lit with electric lights in 1878, but this was discontinued due to cost.
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Electric traction
By the 1890s, London had already witnessed several advancements in electricity. In 1882, London built a large-scale power station at Holburn Viaduct, and the Edison Electric Light Station, the world's first coal-fired power station, was also constructed in the city. Despite widespread apprehension, the rails of the London Underground were being electrified.
Railway electric traction describes the various types of locomotive and multiple units used on electrification systems worldwide. The concept of electric traction dates back to the 19th century with the invention of the electric locomotive by Robert Davidson in 1837. Early systems used batteries as their power source, which were limited in range and efficiency. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the widespread adoption of electric traction in railways.
The development of overhead wire systems and third-rail technology enabled a continuous power supply, making electric trains more viable for long-distance travel. Electric traction offered several benefits over steam traction, including quick acceleration, ideal for urban and suburban services, and increased power, perfect for heavy freight trains in hilly areas. Electric traction systems also have reduced maintenance costs and time, high starting torque, and improved energy conversion efficiency.
Overall, the late 19th century saw significant developments in electricity and electric traction systems, which would go on to transform transportation in London and worldwide.
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Public perception of electricity
By the 1890s, electricity was gradually being introduced to London. The world's first coal-fired power station, the Edison Electric Light Station, was built in London in 1882, with the promise of supplying light and warmth to London homes. The power was used for Holborn's newly electrified street lighting, an idea that quickly spread around the city.
Despite these concerns, some believed that small amounts of electricity had healing powers, and there were even rumours of people wearing electric jewellery. The introduction of electricity to the London Underground also caused apprehension due to fears of potentially fatal electrical short circuits and accidents.
The 1890s also saw the development of electric transportation. In 1890, American chemist William Morrison invented the first practical electric car, with a top speed of 14 miles per hour. Additionally, the adoption of electric traction for urban transport was gaining traction, with small tramways in the United Kingdom and the United States operating electrically.
Overall, while the introduction of electricity to London in the 1890s was met with excitement and curiosity, there were also concerns about its potential dangers, as well as a belief in its healing powers.
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The Edison Electric Light Station
By 1882, London had a large-scale power station at Holburn Viaduct, named the Edison Electric Light Station. It was the world's first coal-fired power station generating electricity for public use. The Edison Electric Light Station was built by Thomas Edison's Edison Electric Light Company at 57 Holborn Viaduct in central London. The power station began running on 12 January 1882, three years after the invention of the carbon-filament incandescent lightbulb. It burned coal to drive a 125 horsepower steam engine, which in turn drove a 27-tonne generator that produced direct current (DC) at 110 volts. This initially powered 968 16-candle incandescent lamps to provide street lighting from Holborn Circus to St. Martin's Le Grand, which was later expanded to 3,000 lamps. The power station also provided electricity to private residences.
Edison's system of electric power and light distribution consisted of a large central power plant with its generators (called dynamos), voltage-regulating devices, copper wires connecting the plant to other buildings, the wiring, switches, and fixtures in the interiors of those buildings, and the light bulbs themselves. Customers were connected to the station by thick copper wires run inside tubes called conduits. At first, Edison used two copper wires to distribute electricity, but later adopted a three-wire system that allowed the use of thinner wires, reducing costs.
Despite the success of the Edison Electric Light Station in providing electricity to London, the station ran at a significant loss and closed in September 1886, with the lamps being converted back to gas. However, the development of this power station represented a significant advancement in the Victorian period, which witnessed enormous progress in energy technology.
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The Electric Lighting Acts
By 1882, London had a large-scale power station at Holburn Viaduct. The power produced at Holburn Viaduct was mostly used to power public resources, and the electrification of the London Underground.
The Electric Lighting Act of 1882 was the first public general electricity act. Its provisions were wide-ranging, specifying the powers of the Board of Trade, local authorities, and companies; the acquisition of land; construction of works; the running of cables; theft and damage; the protection of canals and mines; and financial matters. The act's long title was:
> 'An Act to facilitate and regulate the supply of Electricity for Lighting and other purposes in Great Britain and Ireland.'
The 1888 Act amended the 1882 Act, extending the local authority reversion period from 21 to 42 years. The Electric Lighting (Clauses) Act of 1899 incorporated the clauses and provisions contained in provisional orders made under the 1882 and 1888 Acts. It laid down common principles to be incorporated into all provisional orders.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, London had electricity in 1890. The city had a large-scale power station at Holburn Viaduct since 1882.
The electricity generated at Holburn Viaduct was primarily used for street lighting and to power public resources.
Godalming, a town in Surrey, built the first power station to provide electricity to the public in 1881. By 1890, Paris had also begun to adopt electricity, using electric traction for its city railway network.
People in the 1890s thought electricity could replace gas as a fuel source but believed it to be dangerous. Some even thought small amounts of electricity had healing powers.
In 1890, the first practical electric car was invented by American chemist William Morrison. Unfortunately, electricity was also used to deliberately kill a convicted murderer, William Kemmler, who was executed in the electric chair.
