Electricity Application form
The coming of electric power
Despite entertaining lectures and demonstrations delivered at the Public Hall in 1879 by Dr William Spottiswoode Esq (President of the Royal Society) on the subjects of “Electricity” and “Electric Light” – illustrated by numerous experiments – there was no development of domestic power in the Sevenoaks area until 1914.
In that year the Sevenoaks and District Electricity Co. Ltd was formed. Their Prospectus was filed with the registrar of Joint Stock Companies, and asked for a Capital of £40,000 divided into 40,000 shares of £1 each. Response was immediate and increasing so rapidly in the Sevenoaks area that a temporary generating plant was installed in the old Smith’s Brewery building in Suffolk Place to respond to the demand and instil confidence amongst prospective customers.
From the Company’s Prospectus: … A suitable Freehold site for the permanent Generating Station has been secured with room for future extensions. The mains are being laid from Sevenoaks to Oxted, the plant and machinery have been ordered, and the Directors expect that the progress of work will be such as to enable the Company to provide a general supply of Electrical Current over a large part of the area before the expiration of the present year.
A Contract has been entered into with Crompton & Company, Limited of London and Chelmsford, under which they undertake to erect and equip the Generating Station, to supply and lay about 22 miles of feeders and distributing mains, and to do other necessary work, for the lump sum of £29,730 1s. 6d. payable in cash.
Electricity has become recognised as a necessary illuminant of every household. It is economical, bright and healthy, and the Directors are confident there will be a large demand in the area of the Company’s operations. This confidence would appear fully justified from the fact that already the Company has received more than 300 replies from the residents intimating their intention to apply for electrical energy. Such an unusual demand, received before the Company had actually commenced work, must be accepted as promising well for the future success of the undertaking.
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