English Electric Co., Stafford

Description:This group photograph was taken during a visit to the English Electric, Stafford Works by Vice-Admiral Edwards, Third Sea-Lord and Controller of the Navy.

Left to right: Mr E.W. Peace; Mr J.R. Sully, General Manager of Stafford Works, Lord Nelson (George Horatio Nelson), 1st Lord Nelson of Stafford, Managing Director of English Electric between 1930 and 1956; Vice-Admiral Edwards; all others unknown.

They are pictured in front of a large alternator stator in the Turbine Generator Division, in an area often known as '68 Bay’ which is located on the Lichfield Road Site near to the railway bridge which carries the A34 Lichfield Road over the West Coast main line. The Stafford factory was renowned for its electrical products including generators, transformers and switchgear.

Additional information: Siemens Brothers purchased the land in 1901 and built the factory and offices which were ready to start production in 1903. In 1918 Siemens merged with several companies, including Dick, Kerr and Co., to become The English Electric Co. Two years later in 1920, The English Electric Co bought the Stafford Works. The English Electric Co. merged with GEC (The General Electric Company) during 1968 and the Lichfield Road Site became part of GEC Power Engineering Ltd. On 22 March 1989 became part of GEC ALSTHOM, an Anglo French Joint Venture. On 22 June 1998 this in turn became part of ALSTOM with global HQ in Paris and on 2 November 2015 the Stafford Grid and Power Businesses became part of GE (General Electric, an American Company).