The History of Battersea Power Station
Known as the Time Police Headquarters by all Jodi Taylor fans
AI-generated audio has been added for accessibility.
In Jodi Taylor’s Time Police series, Battersea Power Station is reimagined as the headquarters for the Time Police, a futuristic law enforcement agency tasked with maintaining the integrity of the timeline. Jodi's choice to repurpose this historic London landmark as the headquarters of an organisation overseeing time travel is both imaginative and symbolic. It reflects a central theme in her books: the blend of history, science, and the modern world. Battersea’s imposing, industrial structure—with its towering chimneys and immense brickwork—lends itself perfectly to the image of a powerful, bureaucratic institution like the Time Police. In this History Briefing we explore the history of Battersea Power Station before the Time Police took over.
Battersea Power Station is an iconic industrial structure located on the south bank of the River Thames in London, England. Famous for its Art Deco architecture and its towering chimneys, it has played a prominent role in both London's industrial past and its more recent cultural revival. The station has become a symbol of the city’s post-industrial regeneration, but its history spans nearly a century, filled with technical achievements, cultural associations, and periods of decay and redevelopment.
Battersea Power Station was conceived during the 1920s, a period when electricity demand was rising rapidly in London. Previously, power generation in London had been decentralized, with many small stations across the city, often inefficient and polluting. The London Power Company (LPC) proposed to centralize electricity production in one large, efficient plant, leading to the construction of Battersea Power Station.
The site chosen for the station was adjacent to the Thames, where the water could be used for cooling. The initial design was created by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, a prominent British architect known for designing the red telephone box and Liverpool Cathedral. His involvement ensured that the industrial building also had significant architectural merit.
Construction began in 1929, with the first phase, known as Battersea A, being completed in 1933. This phase consisted of two chimneys and two turbine halls, which provided power to a significant portion of London. The building’s exterior was clad in brick, designed in the Art Deco style, giving it a monumental and distinctive appearance. The second phase, Battersea B, which mirrored the first, was completed in 1955, resulting in the station's distinctive four-chimney silhouette.
Battersea Power Station became one of the world's most significant brick buildings, symbolizing Britain's industrial might. It was highly efficient for its time, using coal as the primary fuel and producing both electricity and heat. However, its operations were not without controversy. While the station was a technological achievement, it produced significant air pollution that concerned nearby residents.
Despite this, Battersea played a crucial role in powering London, particularly during World War II. During the Blitz, it became a target for bombing raids, but managed to survive and continued to supply electricity during a critical period.
As the decades progressed, the station's coal-fired technology began to fall out of favour. By the 1960s, the British government was moving toward cleaner forms of energy, and Battersea Power Station was gradually becoming outdated. Its last generator was switched off in 1983, and the station was decommissioned shortly afterwards.
Following its closure, the fate of Battersea Power Station was uncertain. The building was left derelict for many years, and its iconic chimneys and brick facade began to decay. Several redevelopment plans were proposed, including converting the site into a theme park or a shopping centre, but none came to fruition.
During this period of decline, the station became something of a cultural icon. It was featured on the cover of Pink Floyd's 1977 album Animals, which depicted a giant inflatable pig floating between the chimneys. The building also appeared in various films, music videos, and television shows, solidifying its status as a symbol of London.
By the early 21st century, efforts to save and redevelop Battersea Power Station had gained traction. In 2012, a Malaysian consortium purchased the site, marking a turning point in the station's fortunes. A major redevelopment plan was put into motion, aiming to preserve the building's architectural heritage while converting it into a mixed-use complex of residences, offices, and retail spaces.
The project was ambitious, involving extensive restoration work on the crumbling structure. The four chimneys, which had become structurally unsound, were painstakingly rebuilt to their original design. The first phase of the redevelopment, including residential buildings and shops, was completed in 2017, while the power station itself was reopened to the public in 2022.
Today, Battersea Power Station has been transformed into a vibrant hub of activity, featuring luxury apartments, office spaces (including Apple’s new London headquarters), shops, restaurants, and cultural venues. Its dramatic architectural presence remains intact, blending its industrial heritage with modern urban design.
The Lift 109 experience at Battersea Power Station is a must-see for those looking to explore London from a new angle. Named after the height of the station’s iconic north-west chimney (109 meters), the experience combines interactive exhibits with an exciting ride in the futuristic Lift 109 itself, a circular glass elevator that takes them up through the inside of the restored north-west chimney. The glass walls allow for an unobstructed view of the iconic brickwork as the lift rises up before bringing visitors to a viewing platform at the top of the chimney, offering unparalleled views of London’s skyline. On clear days, famous landmarks such as The Shard, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, and the winding River Thames are visible in the distance. The vantage point provides a fresh perspective on the city, framed by the industrial heritage of Battersea Power Station itself.
Jodi’s use of Battersea Power Station as the headquarters of the Time Police is a clever choice that enhances the narrative of the Time Police series. By repurposing this historic landmark as a centre for futuristic time-travel law enforcement, she explores the intersection of past and future, blending history with science fiction in a way that adds depth to the setting. Battersea Power Station’s commanding presence underscores the authority of the Time Police, while also providing a rich backdrop for the complex ethical dilemmas of controlling the timeline.
In the books, the nearby Chelsea Bridge is renamed Barricade Bridge after the famous (and completely imaginary) Battersea Barricades, built during the (again completely imaginary) Civil Uprisings, when the country came close to complete revolution. The nearby Flying Duck pub where St Mary’s began is also completely imaginary.
Watch Jodi experiencing Lift 109 at Battersea Power Station. CLICK HERE
We hope you have enjoyed this History Briefing about The Battersea Power Station. CLICK HERE to read more background history from Jodi Taylor’s books.