Description

Circa 1917-18. Tall gabled red brick power house with gableted ridge vents, corrugated iron roof and plain brick buttresses. A small number of openings at ground; louvered vents to gable apex. Smaller section adjoining W gable, built to same pattern but with roofed swept down to N (front) over single-storey cottage. 1950s travelling crane to interior of main shed.

Statement of Interest

B-Group with East and West Breakwaters, Capstan and West Pier.

Originally built in 1917-18 as the principal power station for Port Edgar, which has considerable historical interest for its former use as a Royal Naval base for the servicing of Torpedo Boat Destroyers in the 1st World War and as a Minesweeping base in the 2nd World War. The power station is the most substantial building to survive on the site, and is very prominently situated at the head of the harbour.

Port Edgar was acquired by the Royal Navy in 1916, and was commissioned as HMS Columbine in 1917 for use as a Destroyer Base for the Grand Fleet. Unlike most ships, Destroyers were not self-supporting and required special servicing facilities that were provided at Port Edgar. The buildings at Port Edgar therefore give evidence of a relatively unique type of naval operation. During the 2nd World War Port Edgar was commissioned as HMS Lochinvar and became the main minesweeping base in Scotland. It continued in use as the Royal Navy's training base for minesweeping until it closed in 1975.

The power station originally had a chimney beside the W gable (shown in the 1966 photograph). This has since been removed. It ceased to be used as a power station in the 1920s, but is still houses an electricity sub station.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77780103

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2