ACS news: November 2017
Shows Fashion Fabrics, Hansel House, Northern Electric and Bells
When it opened on June 5th 1939, NESCo House was described as "a most pleasing addition to business premises in the town", that "embraces the most up-to-date architectural features in its design, yet is thoroughly in keeping with its surroundings".
In 1925, the North Eastern Electric Supply Company (NESCo) had chosen Wagonway Road, in Alnwick for the location of their second branch. By the time they moved to Bondgate they had over 7,000 customers around Alnwick, and needed more space to accommodate staff, and demonstrate
an expanding range of domestic appliances.
At the time this was one of 26 NESCo showrooms across the region. Their distribution network was extending beyond the major urban areas, the number of connections was increasing, and the use of electricity for light, heat and power was growing.
NESCo House was designed by L. J. Couves and Partners, who had also designed Grade-II listed Carliol House (the NESCo headquarters in Newcastle); and the groundbreaking Art Deco Dex Garage in Newcastle (which many feel should have been listed, but never was).
In 1939 NESCo House provided a showroom across the front of the ground floor. Customers could examine electric cookers, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, boilers and water heaters. There was a demonstration theatre, with free demonstrations every morning and afternoon, of electric cookery, refrigeration, and laundry work. Lectures on cookery and housecraft were free. Above the showroom were offices for the staff, and behind the building were gardens, stores and a garage.
As early as 1882 the Swan Company had suggested electric street lighting for Alnwick, but the council rejected the proposal, on the basis that the technology needed to be more widely tested. These were the early days of electric lighting. Swan's incandescent electric lights were first installed
by Armstrong at Cragside in 1880. Trials of Swan's electrical lighting apparatus were carried out at Alnwick Castle in 1881, and 100 lamps, driven by a hydro-electric plant, were installed at the castle by the Duke in 1889.
In 1901 the Northern Counties Electricity Supply Company applied to supply Alnwick, and the following year they were busy digging up footpaths to lay cables, then celebrating the first successful installations. It was unfamiliar technology, and in 1909 readers of the Alnwick Mercury were advised "don't let any strong light, like that of electricity, shine directly into the eye".
Over the following years it became increasingly common for houses to be advertised as having electric lighting installed. Typically, from 1912, in Stott Street: "The house is well fitted with gas and electric light, which fittings will be included, with the exception of two standard lamps". And in
Clifton Terrace: "electric lighting and gas and hot water heating throughout".
NESCo had been founded as the Newcastle upon Tyne Electric Supply Company, but was renamed as it expanded to supply the region. It absorbed the Northern Counties Electricity Supply Company in 1916, and went on to supply much of North East England, until nationalisation under the 1947
Electricity Act.
By the 1930s electricity was being installed in Alnwick's new council houses, and tenants in older council houses (who still relied on gas lighting) were petitioning for a conversion.
Should gas or electric street lighting be preferred? The debate
rumbled on for more than thirty years. The challenge
for the Lighting Committee was to balance the capital cost
of a change, against the different running costs, and other
benefits of the competing systems. The issue was complicated
by accusations that influential people in the town had
a financial interest in the local gas company.
A number of demonstrations of different street lighting systems
were carried out in the 1930s, and electric street lighting
began to be introduced - starting with the main roads,
and new estates. It wasn't until 1950 that a decision was
taken to convert all street lighting in the town to electricity,
and the last six gas street lamps (in Denwick Lane) were finally
switched off in 1972.
Today, in NESCo house, we find a charity shop with a restaurant
above. Some view the building as a blot on the high
street, but it is well-built in stone; unassuming; and appropriate
in scale. Few, though, would now describe it as "thoroughly
in keeping with its surroundings". Like the Post
Office building on Fenkle Street (1940) and the Police Station
on Prudhoe Street (1932) it reflects a different era, and
different tastes. Nevertheless, the coming of electricity
changed the lives of people in Alnwick. If we can't celebrate
NESCo House for the architecture or the heritage value, at
least we can acknowledge that it symbolises an important
stage in the development of the town.