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HVDC Kingsnorth

2025-07-08T21:01:26Z

2A00:23CC:E80A:AD01:1718:1978:C0E0:AF4F:

{{Short description|HVDC transmission line in England, the United Kingdom}}
{{GeoGroup}}
'''HVDC Kingsnorth''' was a [[High-voltage direct current|high-voltage direct-current]] ([[HVDC]]) transmission system connecting [[Kingsnorth (Medway)|Kingsnorth]] in [[Kent]] to two sites in [[Greater London]]. It was at one time the only application of the technology of high voltage direct current transmission for the supply of transformer stations in a city, and the first HVDC link to be embedded within an AC system, rather than interconnecting two asynchronous systems. It was also the first HVDC scheme to be equipped with self-tuning harmonic filters and to be controlled with a "Phase Locked Oscillator", a principle which subsequently became standard on all HVDC systems.<ref>Calverley T.E., Gavrilovic, A., Last F.H., Mott C.W., The Kingsnorth-Beddington-Willesden DC Link, [[International Council on Large Electric Systems|CIGRÉ]] session, Paris, 1968, paper 43-04.</ref>

It was designed in the late 1960s and went into service in 1974.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=The Electricity Council|title=Electricity Supply in the United Kingdom: a Chronology|publisher=The Electricity Council|year=1987|isbn=085188105X|location=London|pages=112}}</ref> It ran from [[Kingsnorth power station]] as a 59 kilometers long [[High-voltage direct current#Bipolar|bipolar]] (3-wire) underground cable. The positive pole operating at a voltage of +266 kV terminated at the [[HVDC converter station|converter station]] in [[Beddington]] near [[Croydon]]. The negative pole continued to run a further 26 kilometers at -266 kV line to a similar station at [[Willesden]] in North London.

There was also the possibility, if the converter station in Kingsnorth was out of service, to run the system as [[High-voltage direct current#Monopole and earth return|monopolar]] HVDC between the Beddington and Willesden stations. The HVDC Kingsnorth was one of the last HVDC schemes equipped with [[mercury arc rectifier|mercury vapour rectifiers]], which were ARAG/4-valves designed by English Electric. Each converter station for 266 kV consisted of two six-pulse valve bridges for 132 kV switched in series, which were each fed via a star-star and a star-delta connected transformer.

Apart from the [[Nelson River DC Transmission System#Bipole 1|Nelson River Bipole 1 system]] in [[Canada]], all later-built HVDC systems used [[thyristor]] valves. The Kingsnorth HVDC scheme could transfer a maximum power of 640 megawatts (320 megawatts per pole).

In 1981, one mercury arc valve at Willesden Static Inverter Plant, was replaced by a H200 thyristor valve, developed by English Electric.

The system described was shut down in 1986<ref name=":0" /> or 1987<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ece.uidaho.edu/hvdcfacts/Projects/HVDCProjectsListingMay2008-existing.pdf|title=404 - University of Idaho|access-date=2009-05-22|archive-date=2008-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215234956/http://www.ece.uidaho.edu/hvdcfacts/Projects/HVDCProjectsListingMay2008-existing.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> following system reinforcement on the network it was embedded in. However the capacitor banks located at Kingsorth were used for voltage control on the network. These were later removed from the system completely in the mid 1980s? (1990s?) as they contained [[Polychlorinated biphenyl|PCB]].

== Sites ==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Site || Coordinates
|-
| Kingsnorth converter station (out of service) || {{Coord|51|25|11|N|0|35|46|E|type:landmark|name=Kingsnorth Transmission - Kingsnorth converter station}}
|-
| London-Beddington converter station (out of service) || {{Coord|51|22|23|N|0|7|38|W|type:landmark|name=Kingsnorth Transmission - Beddington converter station}}
|-
| London-Willesden converter station (out of service) || {{Coord|51|32|03|N|0|15|29|W|type:landmark|name=Kingsnorth Transmission - Willesden converter station}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.creativeworks.co.uk/clients/online_publications/Alstom/hvdc50years/offline/download.pdf Page13-15]
{{National Grid|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Infrastructure in London]]
[[Category:Electrical interconnectors to and from Great Britain]]
[[Category:HVDC transmission lines]]
[[Category:Electric power infrastructure in England]]
[[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1974]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in England]]

Croydon Clocktower

2025-07-08T17:40:10Z

2A00:23CC:E80A:AD01:1718:1978:C0E0:AF4F:

{{Short description|Arts and museum complex in Croydon, London, England}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox Historic building
|image = Croydon clocktower.jpg
|caption = Croydon Clocktower (the building to the right is the Braithwaite Hall)
|name = Croydon Clocktower
|location_town = [[Croydon]], [[London]]
|location_country = England
| map_type = Greater London
| pushpin_label =Croydon Clocktower
| coordinates ={{coord|51|22|20|N|0|5|59|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title, inline}}
|client = [[London Borough of Croydon]]
|construction_start_date=
|completion_date =
|date_demolished =
}}

'''Croydon Clocktower''' is an arts and museum complex located on Katharine Street in [[Croydon]], [[Greater London]].<ref name=Black2017>{{cite book |last1=Black |first1=Alistair |last2=Pepper |first2=Simon |last3=Bagshaw |first3=Kaye |title=Books, Buildings and Social Engineering: Early Public Libraries in Britain from Past to Present |date=2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-17328-1 |pages=314–315 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZgkkDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT314 |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
The venue, which forms part of the 19th-century [[Croydon Town Hall|Town Hall]],<ref>{{cite book|first1=Bridget |last1=Cherry |first2= Nikolaus |last2=Pevsner|title=''London 2: South''. Buildings of England series|publisher=Penguin Books|year= 1983|isbn=0-14-071047-7|page=214}}</ref> was opened as an arts and museum complex by Queen [[Elizabeth II]] in 1994. A notable early success was the Picasso exhibition in March to May 1995 named ''Picasso's Croydon Period''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/dont-mention-the-c-word-1609739.html|title=Don't mention the 'C' word|work=The Independent|date=3 March 1995}}</ref>

The venue contains the [[Museum of Croydon]], Clocktower Café and the [[Croydon Central Library]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/arts/croyclocktower/opening|title=Croydon Clocktower: Opening Times|publisher=Croydon Council|access-date=1 September 2020}}</ref> Other facilities which can be accessed from Croydon Clocktower include the [[David Lean Cinema]], which offers a regular programme of art house and independent films, and the Braithwaite Hall, which is used for concerts, theatre and children's shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6299424.concert-idas-march/|title=Concert: Ida's march|work=News Shopper|date=11 September 2002}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/arts/croyclocktower/ Croydon Clocktower at Croydon Council]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071101095715/http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/croydonlibs/centrallib/ Central Library]

{{LB Croydon}}
{{Buildings and structures in Croydon}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Culture in the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:Grade II listed buildings in the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:Leisure in the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:Clock towers in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Towers in London]]
[[Category:Arts centres in London]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:Turret clocks]]
[[Category:Individual clocks in England]]
[[Category:Towers completed in 1895]]

Wennington, London

2025-07-08T16:54:07Z

2A00:23CC:E80A:AD01:1718:1978:C0E0:AF4F:

{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{infobox UK place
| country = England
| region = London
| london_borough = Havering
| official_name = Wennington
| coordinates = {{coord|51.5061|0.2189|type:city_region:GB-HAV|display=inline,title}}
| constituency_westminster = [[Dagenham and Rainham (UK Parliament constituency)|Dagenham and Rainham]]
| post_town = RAINHAM
| postcode_district = RM13
| postcode_area = RM
| dial_code = 01708
| os_grid_reference = TQ540809
| static_image_name = Northeast View of the Church of Saint Mary and Saint Peter, Wennington.jpg
| static_image_caption = [[St Mary and St Peter's Church, Wennington|Church of St Mary and St Peter]]
| population = 300
| population_ref = (approximate)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/wennington/|title=Wennington – Hidden London}}</ref>
| charingX_distance_mi = 14.8
| charingX_direction = E
}}
'''Wennington''' is a village in [[Greater London]] and is located in the [[London Borough of Havering]]. It is situated 14.8 miles (23.8 km) east of Charing Cross. Wennington was an ancient parish in the county of [[Essex]] that was abolished for civil purposes in 1934. It is surrounded by the [[Metropolitan Green Belt]]. Wennington was added to [[Hornchurch Urban District]] in 1934 and has formed part of Greater London since 1965.

==History==
{| class="wikitable" align="right" style=font-size:85%;margin-left:10px;
|+'''Wennington (parish) population'''
|-
!align="center"| 1881
|align="center"| 196
|-
!align="center"| 1891
|align="center"| 310
|-
!align="center"| 1901
|align="center"| 360
|-
!align="center"| 1911
|align="center"| 364
|-
!align="center"| 1921
|align="center"| 432
|-
!align="center"| 1931
|align="center"| 359
|-
!align="center"| 1941
|align="center"| war #
|-
!align="center"| 1951
|align="center"| 320
|-
|style="font-size:smaller" colspan=2|# no census was held due to war
|-
|style="font-size:smaller" colspan=2 align=center|source: [[Census#United Kingdom|UK census]]<ref name=vob_pop>{{cite vob | url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10248723/cube/TOT_POP | name= Wennington population | accessdate=13 October 2013}}</ref>
|}
Wennington is recorded in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 as ''Wemtuna''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7296487 |title=Place name: Wennington, Essex Folio: 15r Little Domesday Book |author= |date= |website=nationalarchives.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref> The manor had only three households and was in the possession of [[Westminster Abbey]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/TQ5380/wennington/ |title=Wennington |author= |date= |website=opendomesday.org |publisher=Anna Powell-Smith |access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref> The [[Church of England parish church]], [[St Mary and St Peter's Church, Wennington|St Mary and St Peter's]], dates from the 12th century.<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1079886|desc=Church of St Mary and St Peter|grade=II*|accessdate=20 July 2022}}</ref>

[[File:East-Facing View inside the Church of Saint Mary and Saint Peter, Wennington (01).jpg|thumb|left|Interior of the Church of Saint Mary and Saint Peter, Wennington]]

The parish included the Thameside area of [[Coldharbour, Havering|Coldharbour]], the [[Wennington Marshes]] and the village of Wennington. The Wennington parish became part of the Romford [[Poor Law Union]] in 1836. It was the smallest parish in the union with a population of 127. In 1875 the parish became part of the Romford [[rural sanitary district]]. In 1894 the [[Romford Rural District]] was created and Wennington gained a [[Parish councils in England|parish council]].

Following a [[county review order]] in 1934, and in anticipation of suburban house building, Wennington became part of an expanded [[Hornchurch Urban District]] and the parish council was abolished. In 1965, Hornchurch Urban District was abolished, and Wennington became part of the [[London Borough of Havering]] in Greater London.

On 19 July 2022, Wennington was hit by [[Wennington wildfire|a wildfire]] during the [[2022 United Kingdom heat wave]]. At least 18 houses were burnt down and many others damaged, while around 90 families were evacuated from the village with a rescue centre set up in a nearby hotel.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gillespie |first1=Tom |last2=Drummond |first2=Michael |date=2022-07-20 |title=Nearly 20 houses destroyed by Wennington grass fires as public is warned the danger isn't over |language=en-GB |work=[[Sky News]] |url=https://news.sky.com/story/brutal-40c-day-leaves-uk-reeling-after-surge-of-fires-rips-through-homes-12655350 |access-date=2022-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Parekh |first=Marcus |date=2022-07-19 |title=Wennington fire: Street goes up in flames as 40C heatwave scorches Britain |language=en-GB |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/07/19/london-fire-wennington-dartford-upminster-green-uk-heatwave-summer/ |access-date=2022-07-19 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hockaday |first=James |date=2022-07-20 |title=Devastating aftermath of Wennington fire that destroyed houses but spared church |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/07/20/devastating-aftermath-of-wennington-wildfire-revealed-in-aerial-shots-17033212/ |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sawer |first=Patrick |date=20 July 2022 |title=Wennington fire: Compost blaze that devastated village started just yards from fire station |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/07/20/wennington-fire-compost-blaze-devastated-village-started-just/ |access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref> Around 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters were sent to the scene by [[London Fire Brigade]]. The fire reportedly started from a [[Compost|compost heap]] which [[Spontaneous combustion|spontaneously combusted]], with flames subsequently spreading along a garden fence.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Sawer |first1=Patrick |last2=Southworth |first2=Phoebe |last3=Lewis |first3=Lauren |date=19 July 2022 |title='We grabbed the tortoise and left': Wennington villagers flee as their homes go up in flames |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/07/19/grabbed-tortoise-left-wennington-villagers-flee-homes-go-flames/}}</ref>

==Government==
Wennington is within the [[Dagenham and Rainham (UK Parliament constituency)|Dagenham and Rainham UK Parliament constituency]]. The current MP is [[Jon Cruddas]] of the Labour Party. It forms part of the Rainham and Wennington [[Ward (country subdivision)|electoral ward]] of Havering. The ward elects three councillors to [[Havering London Borough Council]]. All three of the councillors elected in the [[2022 London local elections]] were the Conservative Party candidates.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://democracy.havering.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=TABLE&PIC=1 | title=Benefit information for landlords }}</ref>

==Geography==
The village of Wennington is a ribbon development extending southeast of [[Rainham, London|Rainham]], along Wennington Road (B1335) near the junction of the [[A13 road (Great Britain)|A13 road]] and New Road (A1306). It is about 2 km (over 1 mile) north of the [[River Thames]]. It consists of mostly scattered houses and the Wennington Hall farmhouse. The village population is around 300. In the south lie the barren Wennington Marshes, which now form part of the RSPB's [[Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve|Rainham Marshes nature reserve]].<ref>https://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/wennington/ Hidden London: Wennington</ref>

To the west and north Wennington has a boundary with [[Rainham, London|Rainham]], also in Havering, formed by the Common Watercourse.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} To the south there is a boundary in the middle of the Thames with [[Erith]] in the [[London Borough of Bexley]].{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} To the east are [[Aveley]] and [[Purfleet]] in [[Thurrock]].{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

==Transport==
[[London Buses]] route 372 serves the village.

===Nearest stations===
* [[Rainham railway station (London)|Rainham railway station]]
* [[Purfleet railway station]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|London}}
{{Commons category-inline|Wennington, London}}
*[http://www.wenningtonvillage.org/village.html The village]
*[http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/wenningtonrovers Wennington Rovers FC]

{{Authority control}}
{{LB Havering}}

[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Havering]]
[[Category:Villages in London]]