Bloom Street Power Station

UK’s first combined heat and power station.

Electicity power generating station, now part electicity sub-station and part central-heating generator for the locality. 1901, altered. Red brick with sandstone dressings (roof not visible). Trapeziform plan on island site adjacent to Rochdale Canal and former canal basin immediately to rear. 

Five bays to Winser Street and 7 bays to Bloom Street. Industrial Baroque style. Regular aracaded facade to Bloom  Street: stone-banded piers and giant round-headed arches with keystones, openings with large stone mullions and transoms, the 1st, 3rd and 5th wth louvred screens and the others blind or blocked; pilastered upper levels with cornices and parapet. Winser Street facade similar but less regular, with 3-window office in centre. Large octagonal chimney.

Unusual survival of early example of local electricity station, and important functional component of this warehousing locality; forms part of group with No.102 and No.104 Bloom Street (q.v.), No.2 and No.12 Harter Street (q.v.) and Nos 54 and 56 Princess Street (q.v.).