Stockport Power Station tunnels

Subterranean Stockport. Stockport power station was also known as Millgate Power station. It was built in 1898 and was operational until 1976. It stood derelict until 1981 when demolition commenced. On the site now is a retail park and you would never know the Power station was once there. But underneath the original infrastructure of the power station is still intact. In the form of the old water intake tunnels for the steam turbines. The water intake tunnels utilised the old corn mill tunnels of stockport. Ancient Corn mill tunnels. These tunnels had their source at a river and sent water to turn waterwheels. We enter the Stockport power station tunnels via a water surge pipe. Then we have to pass underneath a partly closed penstock which is very frightening. Inside we can see the old chambers that took water into the power station for the boilers. The station was built to provide power for the Stockport tram system initially then domestic and industrial demand increased. The power station underwent various re fits one in the 1930's and one in the 1950's. Situated on the river Goyt in Stockport the power station was unusual in that it had two wooden cooling towers. This is also a part of Manchester history.