GEC ALSTHOM, Lichfield Road, Stafford

Description:During GEC ALSTHOM’s ownership of the Lichfield Road site in Stafford, several of the old Switchgear Division factory buildings (dating back to English Electric’s time) were demolished to make way for an office redevelopment and to provide an employees' and visitors' car park.

In the background are railway lines used by the West Coast Main Line, beyond is the Queens Retail and Shopping Park which was built on part of the BRC site (British Reinforced Concrete), there is glimpse of some of the former BRC buildings behind the retail units. Over the years a number of these units have changed hands including the B&Q DIY superstore (on the left of the photograph) which later moved to the nearby Hough Retail Park.

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 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).