Power Station
Annabel asks:
I heard rumours that the Greenwich Power Station could be a potential site for re-housing the museum of Theatre from Covent Garden when it closes, do you know anything about this or what the Power Station will be used for?
The Phantom replies:
Hi Annabel. As far as I am aware, Greenwich Power station has been recently refurbished and is still being used as a power station. It certainly was last time I went past! I haven't heard any new rumours that it is being closed - though rumblings have been going round for years - usually emanating from estate agents trying to sell luxury flats close-by..
The rumour you have heard almost certainly comes from the New Statesman from July 2006 where they suggested it might be used for a museum for performing arts incorporating MOMI. Nothing's impossible, but I should point out that the New Statesman was also responsible for the recent (wrong) report that The American Embassy was moving to Greenwich.
I heard rumours that the Greenwich Power Station could be a potential site for re-housing the museum of Theatre from Covent Garden when it closes, do you know anything about this or what the Power Station will be used for?
The Phantom replies:
Hi Annabel. As far as I am aware, Greenwich Power station has been recently refurbished and is still being used as a power station. It certainly was last time I went past! I haven't heard any new rumours that it is being closed - though rumblings have been going round for years - usually emanating from estate agents trying to sell luxury flats close-by..
The rumour you have heard almost certainly comes from the New Statesman from July 2006 where they suggested it might be used for a museum for performing arts incorporating MOMI. Nothing's impossible, but I should point out that the New Statesman was also responsible for the recent (wrong) report that The American Embassy was moving to Greenwich.
Labels: Ask The Phantom
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
11:23
9 Comments:
before the power station was done up - and the public could visit - about half of it wasn't used. A lot of very dramatic internal space.
How cool would that be - an art space in a WORKING power station...
And presumably, of course, a security nightmare...
MOMI in Greenwich? That would be very cool. Although clearly very unlikely.
The Theatre museum is moving to the V&A!
I understand that the power station is there to provide emergency back-up for London Underground.
I heard a great story about how the site was originally acquired by a private power company back in the pea-soup thick mists of time. Apparently it stands on what was a field next to the almshouses. The almshouse authorities initially granted permission to use the field as a place where ponies which worked underground for much of the year could be turned out for an annual break. When ponies were replaced by automated technology the power company stepped swiftly in and built the power station. Don't know if a word of this is true- but I'm sure somebody can confirm or explode it?
If it's not true it ought to be. How romantic. Were there many ponies working underground in London? Could be the shire horses used by the breweries, perhaps? Of course this is all speculation - but it's a lovely idea.
I know I have read that somewhere recently (the grazing for horses), but for the life of me I can not find it. I have a feeling it may have been on one of the Plaques on the waterfront walk in Greenwich that I did for the first time recently. If it's set in stone it must be true....?
On reflection (in the pub this evening) the field may have been grazed by horses used for pulling trams.
It certainly is (was?) there as a back-up for Tube power supplies - it was originally built to provide power for the tram network, which might back up tram-related theories.
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