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London Metropolitan Archives

GENERAL HYDRAULIC POWER COMPANY LIMITED


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0074 B/GH

Held at: London Metropolitan Archives

Title: GENERAL HYDRAULIC POWER COMPANY LIMITED

Date(s): 1882-1992

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 34.9 linear metres

Name of creator(s): General Hydraulic Power Company Ltd
Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company x London Hydraulic Power Company
Liverpool Hydraulic Power Company

CONTEXT

Administrative/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.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

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.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

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 governing access:

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright rests with the City of London.

Physical characteristics:

Fit

Finding aids:

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

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Donated to the Archive in 1968.

ALLIED MATERIALS

DESCRIPTION NOTES Rules or conventions: 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.

Date(s) of descriptions: July to October 2009


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Business administration | Business
Business management | Management
Companies | Enterprises
Corporate minutes | Business records | Documents | Information sources
Energy supply | Energy policy
Hydraulic equipment | Mechanical equipment
Hydroelectric power | Renewable energy sources | Energy resources
Legal documents | Law
Personnel management | Organization and administration | Health services administration | Public administration | Government
Share dealing | Financial markets | Investment | Finance
Business x Enterprises
Business administration x Business management
Company archives
Financial accounts
Property

Personal names

Corporate names
General Hydraulic Power Company Ltd
Liverpool Hydraulic Power Company
Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company x London Hydraulic Power Company

Places