English Electric Co., Stafford

Description:This picture from a glass negative was taken in the Turbine Generator Division, in an area often known as '68 Bay’ which was located on the former Lichfield Road Site in Stafford, near to the railway bridge which carries the A34 Lichfield Road over the West Coast main line.

The group of Engineers and visitors are standing in front of a large Generator intended for the Windsor Power Station in Ontario, Canada. If you recognise anyone in the photograph, please contact us.

The Stafford Works was renowned for its electrical equipment products including generators, transformers and switchgear. Siemens Brothers purchased land by the Lichfield Road in 1901 and built a 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).

During 2020 and 2021 the former Main Works site was demolished and the site cleared for redevelopment. However, on a neighbouring site the Transformer Works remains and is still operational (May 2022) as part of the GE (General Electric) group.