Collection GB 0074 B/GH - GENERAL HYDRAULIC POWER COMPANY LIMITED

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 B/GH

Title

GENERAL HYDRAULIC POWER COMPANY LIMITED

Date(s)

  • 1882-1992 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

34.9 linear metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The General Hydraulic Power Company Limited, was formed in 1882, the date of incorporation being 29 June. It incorporated the Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company, formed in 1872, which became the London Hydraulic Power Company in January 1884 (as authorised by the London Hydraulic Power Company Acts 1871 and 1884) and the Liverpool Hydraulic Power Company (authorised by the Liverpool Hydraulic Power Company Acts, 1884 and 1887). Registered Office in 1976: Renforth Street, Rotherhithe, London, SE16.

According to website "Subterranea Britannica" (accessed Oct 2009): The Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company was formed in 1871 to operate in London's Docklands. In 1884 it became the London Hydraulic Power Company, providing hydraulic power over most of London, for the operation of lifts, cranes, presses and similar equipment. Central pumping plants supplied high pressure water to a pipe network, which was extended progressively up to 1939. Post war damage and electrification led to the decline of the Company. In 1981 control of the Company was acquired by a group led by Rothschilds, which recognised the importance of the pipe network for the coming generation of communications systems. The network of 150 miles of pipes, ducts and conduits was sold in 1985 to Mercury Communications Ltd, now owned by Cable and Wireless Ltd, and subsequently many miles of optical fibre cable have been laid in this network.

See http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/h/hydraulic_power_in_london/index.shtml.

This collection also contains records of the predeccessor companies Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company, London Hydraulic Power Company (which had pumping stations at Falcon Wharf, Rotherhithe, Wapping; City Road, Islington; and Grosvenor Road, Westminster) and Liverpool Hydraulic Power Company, and records of the following associated companies: Aldous Campbell Hypower Limited; Grosvenor Hypower Limited; Hatfield Insurance Company Limited (of 19 Hatfields, London, SE1); Hypower Limited; and De Trafford Estate Company.

Archival history

GB 0074 B/GH 1882-1992 Collection 34.9 linear metres General Hydraulic Power Company Ltd
Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company x London Hydraulic Power Company
Liverpool Hydraulic Power Company

The General Hydraulic Power Company Limited, was formed in 1882, the date of incorporation being 29 June. It incorporated the Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company, formed in 1872, which became the London Hydraulic Power Company in January 1884 (as authorised by the London Hydraulic Power Company Acts 1871 and 1884) and the Liverpool Hydraulic Power Company (authorised by the Liverpool Hydraulic Power Company Acts, 1884 and 1887). Registered Office in 1976: Renforth Street, Rotherhithe, London, SE16.

According to website "Subterranea Britannica" (accessed Oct 2009): The Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company was formed in 1871 to operate in London's Docklands. In 1884 it became the London Hydraulic Power Company, providing hydraulic power over most of London, for the operation of lifts, cranes, presses and similar equipment. Central pumping plants supplied high pressure water to a pipe network, which was extended progressively up to 1939. Post war damage and electrification led to the decline of the Company. In 1981 control of the Company was acquired by a group led by Rothschilds, which recognised the importance of the pipe network for the coming generation of communications systems. The network of 150 miles of pipes, ducts and conduits was sold in 1985 to Mercury Communications Ltd, now owned by Cable and Wireless Ltd, and subsequently many miles of optical fibre cable have been laid in this network.

See http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/h/hydraulic_power_in_london/index.shtml.

This collection also contains records of the predeccessor companies Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company, London Hydraulic Power Company (which had pumping stations at Falcon Wharf, Rotherhithe, Wapping; City Road, Islington; and Grosvenor Road, Westminster) and Liverpool Hydraulic Power Company, and records of the following associated companies: Aldous Campbell Hypower Limited; Grosvenor Hypower Limited; Hatfield Insurance Company Limited (of 19 Hatfields, London, SE1); Hypower Limited; and De Trafford Estate Company.

Donated to the Archive in 1968.

Records of the General Hydraulic Power Company Limited, 1882-1992, containing corporate and administrative records, accounting records, share details, property and legal records, personnel records, technical records and printed material for the General Hydraulic Power Company Limited and associated companies.

B/GH General Hydraulic Power Company Ltd; B/GH/ACH Aldous Campbell Hypower Ltd; B/GH/GP General Power Company; B/GH/GRO Grosvenor Hypower Ltd; B/GH/HAT Hatfield Insurance Company; B/GH/HYP Hypower Ltd; B/GH/LH London Hydraulic Power Company; B/GH/LIV Liverpool Hydraulic Power Company; B/GH/TRA De Trafford Estate Company; B/GH/WH Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company; B/GH/MISC Miscellaneous

Available for general access.

Copyright rests with the City of London.
English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. July to October 2009 Personnel management Information sources Documents Business records Corporate minutes Energy resources Renewable energy sources Hydroelectric power Investment Finance Financial markets Share dealing Law Legal documents Energy policy Energy supply Mechanical equipment Hydraulic equipment Management Business management Organization and administration Health services administration Public administration Government Business administration Property Financial accounts Company archives Companies Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company x London Hydraulic Power Company Liverpool Hydraulic Power Company General Hydraulic Power Company Ltd Enterprises Business

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Donated to the Archive in 1968.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the General Hydraulic Power Company Limited, 1882-1992, containing corporate and administrative records, accounting records, share details, property and legal records, personnel records, technical records and printed material for the General Hydraulic Power Company Limited and associated companies.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

B/GH General Hydraulic Power Company Ltd; B/GH/ACH Aldous Campbell Hypower Ltd; B/GH/GP General Power Company; B/GH/GRO Grosvenor Hypower Ltd; B/GH/HAT Hatfield Insurance Company; B/GH/HYP Hypower Ltd; B/GH/LH London Hydraulic Power Company; B/GH/LIV Liverpool Hydraulic Power Company; B/GH/TRA De Trafford Estate Company; B/GH/WH Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company; B/GH/MISC Miscellaneous

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright rests with the City of London.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area