The Ministry of Power approved the construction of Castle Donington in 1951 and work began almost immediately. The first unit started generating in 1956 and was officially opened in October 1957. Unit 6 the final generator was completed and started generating in May 1959. All these images have been supplied with thanks to Norris Pickford.
NORRIS PICKFORD
Norris Pickford
Norris was definitely an unforgettable Donington character.
He worked at Castle Donington as a Shift Maintenance Engineer for nearly the whole life of the station and retired just before closure.
He had an uncanny encyclopaedic memory for events that happened on the plant and the people who worked at the Station from the beginning of his career. Norris was also a keen local historian and had a huge knowledge of Castle Donington and the surrounding area’s local history.
He also had an amazing sense of humour and never missed the chance to lighten a situation with a funny story or the occasional poster.
No. 1 Turbine 22 October 1956
Nos 2, 3 & 4 Cooling Towers 18 April 1956
Construction starts 1953
Castle Donington Construction
Cooling Cut Plant - 24 February 1956
Administrative Building - 24 February 1956
No. 4 Turbine Block - 24 February 1956
Workshops - 24 February 1956
No 2 Turbine 24 February 1956
No. 4 Turbine Block 24 February 1956
No. 3 Turbine Block - 24 February 1956
Nos. 3, 2 & 1 Turbines 24 February 1956
Nos. 3, 2 & 1 Turbines 24 February 1956
General View of Main Building - 27 March 1956
No. 1 Turbine
Turbine House - Electrical Annexe - 27 March 1956
No 3 Turbine Block - 27 March 1956
No 4 Turbine Block - 27 March 1956
No 5 Turbine Base - No 5 in Foreground - 27 March 1956
Administrative Building 27 March 1956
Nos 2, 3 & 4 Cooling Towers 27 March 1956
No 2 Boiler Firing Floor
Chimneys and Precipitators 27 March 1956
Chimneys and Precipitators - 18 April 1956
General View of Main Building - 18 April 1956
No 1 Turbine - 18 April 1956
No 2, 3 & 4 Cooling Towers - 18 June 1956
No 2 Boiler - 18 June 1956
No 3 Turbine Block 18 April 1956
No. 2 Turbine Block
No 3 Turbine Block 18 June 1956
No 2 Turbine - 18 June 1956
Turbine House Electrical Annexe 18 April 1956
No. 2 Turbine Block 18 April 1956
Administrative Building 18 April 1956
Castle Donington Construction
Castle Donington Construction
No. 1 Turbine - 18 May 1956
No. 2 Turbine - 18 May 1956
General view of main building 18 May 1956
Castle Donington Construction
General View of Main Building - 22 October 1956
East End of the Main Building - 17 July 1956
No. 1 Turbine
Administrative Building - 17 July 1956
No. 2, 3 & 4 Cooling Towers - 27 May 1956
No. 2 Turbine Block 17 July 1956
North west corner of Boiler House 17 July 1956
No 6 Turbine Base 17 July 1956
No 3 Boiler 17 July 1956
No 2 Boiler 17 July 1956
No 1 Turbine 22 August 1956
No 2 Turbine 22 August 1956
Castle Donington Construction
Castle Donington Construction
No. 1, 2, 3 & 4 Cooling Towers
No. 6 Turbine Base - 26 September 1956
No. 3 Boiler - 26 September 1956
No 3 Turbines 22 October 1956
Precipitators 22 October 1956
Unit Transformer Equipment
General View of the Main Building - 22 October 1956
Castle Donington Construction
Castle Donington Construction
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. 18 January 1956 Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. 23 June 1955 Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. 21 February 1955 Photo supplied by Andrew Jame
Castle Donington construction. 27 September 1956 Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. 31 December 1954 Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. 21 February 1956 Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. 10 May 1955. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. 23 June 1954 Photo supplied by Andrew James
Castle Donington construction. March 1953 Photo supplied by Andrew James
Coaling Bridges & Junction Tower 26 July1955
Castle Donington construction 26 July 1955
No 4 Cooling Tower 195 28 March 1955
Railway sidings from Back Lane 21 Oct 1952
Railway sidings from Back Lane 198 21 Oct 1952
Sidings site from Back Lane Level Crossing 23 Sep 1952
Railway sidings 202 26 Aug 1954
Railway sidings near Back Lane Crossing 203 23 Oct 1953
Turbine House foundations 25 June 1953
Junction of Trent Lane & Main Road 21 July 1953
Gravity outfall under bridge 206 22Sep 1953
Gravity outfall under railway 23 Oct 1953
Railway track re-instated over CW gravity outfall 208 24 March 1953
Gravity outfall under railway 24 Nov 1953
Railway sidings from Back Lane 199 30 Dec 1952
Castle Donington Information
