https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site Untold Tate Modern - Stories of a former power station Sun, 26 Aug 2018 08:53:56 +0000 https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site en https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Splash-Page Sat, 13 Jan 2018 21:48:50 +0000 Untold Tate Modern - Stories of a former power station https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Splash-Page The Untold Tate Modern &nbsp; voices of the former power&nbsp; station. © Daniela Couling 2016 All Rights Reserved&nbsp; ︎ Noisy? Smelly? Dark? Electrifying?&nbsp; Ever wondered about the past of this building? If only the walls could talk... This is an oral history&nbsp; project&nbsp; exploring and preserving the untold stories and odd happenings during this brick cathedrals’ former years as a noisey, buzzing&nbsp; power station. https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Clive Sun, 26 Aug 2018 08:45:34 +0000 Untold Tate Modern - Stories of a former power station https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Clive Clive &nbsp;Former worker 1975-1979 On top of the chimney (left) and in one of the damaged turbines in the Turbine hall (below)&nbsp; — <img width="642" height="386" width_o="642" height_o="386" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ffe7ddb6bafaa4e2dd95a3b7a556f6dc74eb7a4a172117d4b9db06222cd57f3d/CLINE-HITCHENS-.png" data-mid="35056005" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/642/i/ffe7ddb6bafaa4e2dd95a3b7a556f6dc74eb7a4a172117d4b9db06222cd57f3d/CLINE-HITCHENS-.png" />To Be Completed(INTERVIEW TO BE EDITED AND UPLOADED) <img width="1752" height="1073" width_o="1752" height_o="1073" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4a36a7608b49d717023eaf77defa661bcf23a18f3a7caf6928429f43f72df44d/Clive-Hitchins-apprentice-on-blr-1-control-panel.jpg" data-mid="104740057" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4a36a7608b49d717023eaf77defa661bcf23a18f3a7caf6928429f43f72df44d/Clive-Hitchins-apprentice-on-blr-1-control-panel.jpg" /><img width="1805" height="1099" width_o="1805" height_o="1099" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2af6f88dab769cdf6e0a41a3d6e80765b2eb36e7a9457a85e2bbd42322030c79/Opening-No-3-TA-stop-valve-N-during-run-up.jpg" data-mid="104740963" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2af6f88dab769cdf6e0a41a3d6e80765b2eb36e7a9457a85e2bbd42322030c79/Opening-No-3-TA-stop-valve-N-during-run-up.jpg" /> <img width="1739" height="1099" width_o="1739" height_o="1099" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/607cc5eb9254dff04c6ccac520973743eaa4a551865115bdae526ccd41a851cb/TA-No-3.jpg" data-mid="104740975" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/607cc5eb9254dff04c6ccac520973743eaa4a551865115bdae526ccd41a851cb/TA-No-3.jpg" /><img width="1752" height="1073" width_o="1752" height_o="1073" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ce6323b3b55e90145c9549559925a17f3291f44042ae889dc7a8a4ec2f90dd50/LP-operators-mess-room-2.jpg" data-mid="104740966" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ce6323b3b55e90145c9549559925a17f3291f44042ae889dc7a8a4ec2f90dd50/LP-operators-mess-room-2.jpg" /> Next&nbsp;︎ https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Nobby Sat, 13 Jan 2018 21:48:53 +0000 Untold Tate Modern - Stories of a former power station https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Nobby William ‘Nobby’ Clarke&nbsp; Turbine Operator&nbsp; 1951-1981 STRESS “It is really important to emphasize the stress, its not just the discomfort of the work, but actually the sense that something could happen, that the stress they were under while driving the turbines, and watching to make sure it didn't happen, that the steam didn't get to hot or the whole thing could exploded.”&nbsp; - Norma&nbsp;(Nobby’s daughter) WEEKLY WAGES&nbsp; “They were paid on a weekly basis. At the end of the week you got your money, cash, in an envelope, generally brown, with bits of writing on the front, showing how much had been docked, taken for tax and national insurance. So your wages would be written on it. The wages clerk was probably a woman … So there is an office up there and one of their main jobs is putting the money in the envelopes and handing them over at the end of the week. I have a strong mental image of my father’s wage packet. You know, every Friday this is an important thing and he is taking out of it how much he is giving my mother (which she thought should have been all of it) and then how much he is keeping for himself. Dad’s wages were always at or a little above the national average industrial wage, but it was barely enough to meet the basic needs of a large family. He regularly worked overtime, as did most of the men at the station. Mum supplemented his income by doing casual work as a waitress in between pregnancies and by taking in sewing work.” - Norma(Nobby’s daughter)&nbsp; © Daniela Couling 2016 THE CHIMNEY “The chimney…a noble shaft. Up this noble shaft my father regularly went. The dampers … had to be turned by hand every night. Working the dampers was not easy...To get there,&nbsp;you had to take a lift into a dismal noman’s land, climb a flight of stairs, and then, perhaps a hundred feet&nbsp;up inside the chimney, struggle to turn the controls. It was not pleasant and he wouldn’t risk delegating it.” Norma, Generation. Generate. 2014 “Every year the men organised a Christmas party for the children. In the basement canteen, tables were laid out in rows and piled with party food. There were organised games; a stage with curtains was set up and musical and comedy acts performed; Father Christmas gave everybody a big present; and, at the end, by which time half of us were half asleep, Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy films were shown. My sister scared herself sick by climbing to the highest metal walkways in the turbine room and looking down, a feeling she remembered with shocking clarity the first time&nbsp; she went to Tate Modern.” Norma Clarke, Generation. Generate. 2014 THE END of A POWER STATION “It was a staggered ending … But it meant going down to other stations after a while. So it meant being bussed down the river, to somewhere like Graves End and working down there. My father was not really interested in doing that. But it was troubling because he wasn’t quite at retiring age. He was still fit and well and still had a child at school … I remember it as being a gloomy sort of a time ….. And what it’s like in these sorts of places when people start to leave is that death has its hand on it all and there are fewer and fewer people and less work to do in a day.”&nbsp;- Norma&nbsp;(Nobby’s daughter) © Daniela Couling 2016 Next&nbsp;︎ https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Jim Sat, 13 Jan 2018 21:48:54 +0000 Untold Tate Modern - Stories of a former power station https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Jim JIM KNIGHT Former Worker 1976-1979 Avid photographer and DJ (AKA Knight Lights) — <img width="1602" height="1545" width_o="1602" height_o="1545" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ebb58141f9f432a061058ed51999e5ed981e68902a77fcf7e711655037c3ab5a/Jim-Knight-Control-Engineer.jpg" data-mid="104741101" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ebb58141f9f432a061058ed51999e5ed981e68902a77fcf7e711655037c3ab5a/Jim-Knight-Control-Engineer.jpg" /><img width="347" height="508" width_o="347" height_o="508" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/468a2b839824ae920baf35fc755333b62279ac4bcb72d6bb035e7336fa1e56d4/JIM-KNIGHT.png" data-mid="35056046" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/347/i/468a2b839824ae920baf35fc755333b62279ac4bcb72d6bb035e7336fa1e56d4/JIM-KNIGHT.png" /><img width="1138" height="1767" width_o="1138" height_o="1767" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/715babe7e8c8c5a885f7cc64181dbe9154c5b2c40979a10bf3d4224e90ec7c5d/Jim-Knight-connecting-fuel-oil-pump-motor-no-1-P-H-unit.jpg" data-mid="104741082" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/715babe7e8c8c5a885f7cc64181dbe9154c5b2c40979a10bf3d4224e90ec7c5d/Jim-Knight-connecting-fuel-oil-pump-motor-no-1-P-H-unit.jpg" /> To Be Completed (INTERVIEW TO BE EDITED AND UPLOADED) <img width="960" height="960" width_o="960" height_o="960" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8d1db50a4017cb5cef28a195723d07bbe078c10b20ac719e9e3a9f6d4add5afc/JIM-KNIGHT-INTERVIEW.jpg" data-mid="35056045" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/960/i/8d1db50a4017cb5cef28a195723d07bbe078c10b20ac719e9e3a9f6d4add5afc/JIM-KNIGHT-INTERVIEW.jpg" /> Next&nbsp;︎ https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Gerard Sat, 13 Jan 2018 21:48:52 +0000 Untold Tate Modern - Stories of a former power station https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Gerard GERARDTechnical Staff Trainee1973-1978 Sounds + Smells Ghosts&nbsp; “At the age of 18 I walked into Bankside and had my induction - in those days being allocated a locker and locker room, some overalls and a towel and a bar of soap.&nbsp; To me, it really was a Cathedral of Power - very noisy, very hot, very steamy, very dirty. The Turbine Hall was huge and imposing as you entered...&nbsp; the basement, below ground ...was dark, dingy and, at times, very intimidating to a new starter. Bankside had a range of smells. Hot Fuel Oil from the underground storage tanks, flue gases from the leaking boiler casings and sulphurous fumes from the aerating chambers. &nbsp; Heavy Fuel Oil sticks to anything and hard to remove from skin and clothing... it is like thick treacle. Spillages require solvents to be used to clean it up and inevitably leave stains in the concrete,&nbsp; still visible in the Tate Modern extension.” - Gerard ©Daniela Couling 2016 “Two were asleep in the Jetty hut on a summer night when the door opened and saw a tall soaking wet ghostly figure covered in plastic silhouetted against the moonlight, in blind panic they sprinted back through the tunnel to report what they had seen and form a pose to return to the jetty only to find the ghost asleep in the hut - he had fallen off one of the disco cruise boats and found a ladder to the Jetty.”- Gerard&nbsp; ©Daniela Couling 2016 <img width="899" height="899" width_o="899" height_o="899" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/49a382aeec1dac69679888788df6e62dde4dda75b09539e7239d28a23603eeb9/Oral-History-Interview-with-Gerard-Carey--former-Bankside-Worker--October-2017-Source-Daniela-Couling.jpg" data-mid="9309981" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/899/i/49a382aeec1dac69679888788df6e62dde4dda75b09539e7239d28a23603eeb9/Oral-History-Interview-with-Gerard-Carey--former-Bankside-Worker--October-2017-Source-Daniela-Couling.jpg" /> NOBBY 'Nobby' was a big guy and one you wouldn't want to mess with. I was told that he used to be a bare knuckle fighter and would enter fights down at the Elephant and Castle - the prize a Sunday joint for the 'missus'.- Gerard&nbsp; ©Daniela Couling 2016 FRANK "Frank', he was a guy who had lost his teeth but never wore false teeth, it was very difficult to make sense of what he said anyway. He also had a thing about oral hygiene, he's the only person that I ever knew who use to actually put TCP in his mugs of tea. You could smell him a mile away. &nbsp; He was the one who found a corpse draped across the dark handrails below the jetty on a low tide, thinking it was a piece of plastic until he shone his torch on it”- Gerard&nbsp; ©Daniela Couling 2016 The Turbines&nbsp; “It was so hot during the summer, it was unbearbly hot and I can remember when I was training I sat down for a 12 hour shift driving the turbine and when I got up at the end of the shift I had blisters all round my ankles because it was just so hot with steam leaking from the turbine, I could hardly walk. It was quite though conditions for the guys int he those days.”- Gerard&nbsp; ©Daniela Couling 2016. All rights reserved&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Next ︎ https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Ian Sun, 14 Jan 2018 18:29:48 +0000 Untold Tate Modern - Stories of a former power station https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Ian IanFormer Worker 1963-1964 &nbsp; HEIGHTS “You spent a lot of your life climbing up and down these stairs on open grid flooring, so...um, if you had vertigo it wasn't a good idea.” SAFETY IN THOSE DAYS “Hard hats were optional at the best of times there was none of this protecting your ears, thats why I can't hear a thing you are saying!” NEAR EXPLOSIONS “The thing with running a turbine is that if you think something is going to go wrong, run along the line of the shaft, not the line of the blades.”&nbsp; LIFESPAN OF POWER STATIONS “All power stations have a limited life, obviously I enjoyed my period there, and you never expect these things to last forever. That is properly the only one that is still standing, I have worked in a lot of buildings. So I think I was pleased to see that the building had been retained and had been given a good use with a valuable future.”&nbsp;PUB CULTURE“ I recall&nbsp; the sense of camaraderie as my fondest memory during my years at Bankside, there was a strong bond between the teams. I would often go to the Anchor pub, which still exists, especially if our bosses came, as they would pay. There was a partition of social groups within Bankside, which kept the social community feel within group hierarchies. The Fishmongers Arms, he explains, was a workers’ pub which the men in blue boiler suits frequented. The men in white boiler suits (like himself) would go to the Anchor, the respectable establishment The pub was quite cosmopolitan and had a good restaurant upstairs which overlooked the river.&nbsp; Pub culture played a crucial role as it appeared to establish a common ground, allowing the workers at Bankside to establish friendships with their peers beyond the mechanical grind of the power station work.” -Ian © Daniela Couling 2016&nbsp; Next&nbsp;︎ https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Barry Sat, 13 Jan 2018 22:32:42 +0000 Untold Tate Modern - Stories of a former power station https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Barry BarryDesign and Site manager for Bankside heating district early 1970sFirst impressions: “ I used to walk in the main entrance and it just overwhelmed you, I mean today we have big airplanes and big buildings, but in those days there were no big tall buildings or airplanes. And it was just so impressive as you walked in the main entrance.”&nbsp; Color coded hierarchies: “You had blue overalls and white overalls and there was a caste distinction. And then there was the suited and booted individuals.&nbsp; Blue and brown overalls was generally the work force.&nbsp; The white overalls would have been the management, the supervisory, the superintendents. &nbsp; And then the suited and booted brigade who wouldn’t get their hands dirty would have been the upper management. Working for a consultant, I would have been the suited and booted. But you couldn’t you couldn’t afford, when you are an outside person you have to talk to everybody, because the guy you are going to get the most help from is the guy who works on the shop floor.” - Barry&nbsp; Blue overalls&nbsp;- maintence staff <img width="736" height="828" width_o="736" height_o="828" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d5079b40e2fdc52952a84e0e4bdb54c03d2ab4620d7244fb649805e7980e7c2c/829a2959046e0eb1e8341945616ad32f--workwear-royal-blue.jpg" data-mid="9307660" border="0" data-scale="50" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/736/i/d5079b40e2fdc52952a84e0e4bdb54c03d2ab4620d7244fb649805e7980e7c2c/829a2959046e0eb1e8341945616ad32f--workwear-royal-blue.jpg" /> Brown overalls - operations staff &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<img width="198" height="254" width_o="198" height_o="254" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/af2e041d42565901ce052d239cbe6e5b860922137d122e00738987986bf42e07/Brown-overalls.jpeg" data-mid="9307661" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/198/i/af2e041d42565901ce052d239cbe6e5b860922137d122e00738987986bf42e07/Brown-overalls.jpeg" /> Green overalls - apprentices White overalls - professional staff&nbsp; &nbsp;<img width="800" height="900" width_o="800" height_o="900" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/386464f89bac3c87a5224a80b852b0417b2edc30ba82fd5cb482c4ffaa764047/White-overalls.jpg" data-mid="9307662" border="0" data-scale="47" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/800/i/386464f89bac3c87a5224a80b852b0417b2edc30ba82fd5cb482c4ffaa764047/White-overalls.jpg" /> White overalls with coloured collars - foreman/supervisors ©Daniela Couling 2016 Next&nbsp;︎ https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/The-Queen-at-Bankside-Power-Station-1962 Sun, 14 Jan 2018 15:32:27 +0000 Untold Tate Modern - Stories of a former power station https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/The-Queen-at-Bankside-Power-Station-1962 The Queen visits Bankside Power Station, 1962 &nbsp; Time: 2.45pm Date: Wednesday, 7th March Dress code: Lounge Suit — “I understand that on this visit all the 'spare bodies' that were not involved in the visit were hiding behind boilers 1 to 4 sitting drinking tea in an area that had not been specially cleaned for the visit. Apparently Prince Philip went behind the barriers and spoke to them.” Clive Walter Former worker 1972-1977 <img width="720" height="571" width_o="720" height_o="571" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/65cc8ad920228910463d8a3295a5fadcd6108cdeb1b3a599654ba7cf50724c1f/queen-in-turbine-hall.jpeg" data-mid="9305032" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/720/i/65cc8ad920228910463d8a3295a5fadcd6108cdeb1b3a599654ba7cf50724c1f/queen-in-turbine-hall.jpeg" /> The presence of ethnic minority groups such as West Indian workers can be identified in the clip from the Queen’s visit in 1962, yet there is little acknowledgement of their existence or contribuitions towards the power station. <img width="720" height="571" width_o="720" height_o="571" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7acfa4d466bcbb5b12f6c6df7b7931a46108f55da2b62e56ad4975ff641612df/Queen-s-visit-1962-snapshot.jpeg" data-mid="9305033" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/720/i/7acfa4d466bcbb5b12f6c6df7b7931a46108f55da2b62e56ad4975ff641612df/Queen-s-visit-1962-snapshot.jpeg" /> Mr L. Martin, a Jamaican carpenter, was the only West Indian found on record. His name appeared on an archived list of persons who were presented to the Queen. <img width="720" height="571" width_o="720" height_o="571" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/15ef5b86b397341e44c9b19842d9119d9d73f98a2afce10f685c962d2b422ff8/Workers-Queen-visit-1962.jpeg" data-mid="9305034" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/720/i/15ef5b86b397341e44c9b19842d9119d9d73f98a2afce10f685c962d2b422ff8/Workers-Queen-visit-1962.jpeg" /> &nbsp; Although little is known about Mr L. Martin, this list gives a name and his origin therefore a record of a person of ethnic minority working at Bankside. Mr L. Martin’s presence and contribution towards the running of Bankside makes him a vital symbol or representative for the unrecorded and currently invisible intangible heritage of Bankside being explored in this research project.&nbsp; Next&nbsp;︎ https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Electricity-at-the-Tate-Modern Sat, 13 Jan 2018 22:38:38 +0000 Untold Tate Modern - Stories of a former power station https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/Electricity-at-the-Tate-Modern Current Electricity Supply at the Tate Modern&nbsp; Bankside Switchboard — Not many people know that UK Power Networks currently&nbsp; feeds electricity to half of the city of London from the Bankside switchboard, located in a closed-off wing in the Bankside building.&nbsp; <img width="3888" height="2592" width_o="3888" height_o="2592" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/31321b3147e2791beea738584f20492079d566b88ae2b5db5a866d2890212900/Bankside-Switchroom-Roof-UK-Power-Networks-Nov-2017.JPG.jpg" data-mid="9317116" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/31321b3147e2791beea738584f20492079d566b88ae2b5db5a866d2890212900/Bankside-Switchroom-Roof-UK-Power-Networks-Nov-2017.JPG.jpg" /><img width="3888" height="2592" width_o="3888" height_o="2592" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c102b174a4f2ae8731ca33713dcb9341fe5be3dce30b71299726159a6eca8518/Bankside-Switchroom-Visit-UK-Power-Networks-Nov-2017-.JPG" data-mid="9317117" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c102b174a4f2ae8731ca33713dcb9341fe5be3dce30b71299726159a6eca8518/Bankside-Switchroom-Visit-UK-Power-Networks-Nov-2017-.JPG" /> <img width="3888" height="2592" width_o="3888" height_o="2592" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c917e361c89dff47faf11a0d35dba203b64cd386b6cdbbccf393a89a71b4d6ca/IMG_6959.JPG" data-mid="9283815" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c917e361c89dff47faf11a0d35dba203b64cd386b6cdbbccf393a89a71b4d6ca/IMG_6959.JPG" /><img width="3888" height="2592" width_o="3888" height_o="2592" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/52de252e111725c80a3cf4109a002d64279ebc46c765a00df7e969ce53c14374/Bankside-Switchroom-2-UK-Power-Networks-Nov-2017.jpg" data-mid="9317115" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/52de252e111725c80a3cf4109a002d64279ebc46c765a00df7e969ce53c14374/Bankside-Switchroom-2-UK-Power-Networks-Nov-2017.jpg" /> <img width="3888" height="2592" width_o="3888" height_o="2592" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ffe9f95df8f2828b0dfc484f228d9b69a39a72f6feff096cfceea046c57cfa10/IMG_6987.JPG" data-mid="9317118" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ffe9f95df8f2828b0dfc484f228d9b69a39a72f6feff096cfceea046c57cfa10/IMG_6987.JPG" /><img width="3888" height="2592" width_o="3888" height_o="2592" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/890bd36640681f4ad713a66241ba4cc44b6eb1d0cd9309b2e7e3c2593bb4ed50/Bankside-Switchroom-1-UK-Power-Networks-Nov-2017.jpg" data-mid="9317114" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/890bd36640681f4ad713a66241ba4cc44b6eb1d0cd9309b2e7e3c2593bb4ed50/Bankside-Switchroom-1-UK-Power-Networks-Nov-2017.jpg" />CURRENT UK ELECTRICITY STATUS&nbsp; http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/ Next&nbsp;︎ https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/NOW-and-THEN Sun, 26 Aug 2018 08:53:56 +0000 Untold Tate Modern - Stories of a former power station https://untoldtatemodern.cargo.site/NOW-and-THEN NOW and THEN&nbsp; (To Be Compleated) Chimney under construction 1952 <img width="296" height="395" width_o="296" height_o="395" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5162dbadfa7b0fc95ca7374a0da5fef298c2c23673a9991144fab389f2100f6b/Screen-Shot-2019-03-05-at-20.36.31.png" data-mid="36911126" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/296/i/5162dbadfa7b0fc95ca7374a0da5fef298c2c23673a9991144fab389f2100f6b/Screen-Shot-2019-03-05-at-20.36.31.png" /> Next&nbsp;︎