Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1882-1992 (Creation)
Level of description
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.
Repository
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
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Personnel management
- Information sources
- Documents
- Energy resources
- Energy resources » Renewable energy sources
- Energy resources » Renewable energy sources » Hydroelectric power
- Finance » Investment
- Finance
- Finance » Investment » Financial markets
- Law
- Energy policy
- Energy policy » Energy supply
- Mechanical equipment
- Mechanical equipment » Hydraulic equipment
- Management
- Management » Business management
- Government » Public administration
- Government
- Enterprises
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
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