IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Chapel Close, MILTON KEYNES, MK19 6FP

Latterly operated by Harcros Chemicals, this iron oxide pigment works had a powerhouse containing four Browett, Lindley compound steam engines driving alternators. The plant was still at work when photographed but has subsequently been scrapped. This shows one of the four sets that was running at the time (I can tell because the barring holes in the flywheel rim are not visible due to blurring). This type of power house has disappeared although there are sound thermodynamic reasons to use this type of plant when low grade steam heat is required for process.

Latterly operated by Harcros Chemicals, this iron oxide pigment works had a powerhouse containing four Browett, Lindley compound steam engines driving alternators. The plant was still at work when photographed but has subsequently been scrapped. This is the maker's plate from one of the three older engines (one from 1915 and two from 1927). The fourth engine was built in Letchworth in 1947. In 1990 this plant was in 24/7 operation and on the day of our visit three engines were running and one was down for maintenance.

Latterly operated by Harcros Chemicals, this iron oxide pigment works had a powerhouse containing four Browett, Lindley compound steam engines driving alternators. The plant was still at work when photographed but has subsequently been scrapped. This shows one of the three engines that were running. On the left is part of the fourth engine that was undergoing maintenance.

Latterly operated by Harcros Chemicals, this iron oxide pigment works had a powerhouse containing four Browett, Lindley compound steam engines driving alternators. The plant was still at work when photographed but has subsequently been scrapped. This shows one of the four engines that was running at the time. The bottom left corner shows part of the alternator rotor from an engine undergoing maintenance. This type of power house has vanished although there may be the odd engine of this type we do not know about.

Latterly operated by Harcros Chemicals, this iron oxide pigment works had a powerhouse containing four Browett, Lindley compound steam engines driving alternators. The plant was still at work when photographed but has subsequently been scrapped. This view shows two of the four sets. The set on the right is being overhauled and the alternator has been removed. I seem to recall that it was not possible to get all four in one shot and the best I could do was part of three together.

Latterly operated by Harcros Chemicals, this iron oxide pigment works had a powerhouse containing four Browett, Lindley compound steam engines driving alternators. The plant was still at work when photographed but has subsequently been scrapped. This view shows two of the four sets. The closest set is being overhauled and the alternator has been removed and the crankcase doors are off. If I recall correctly this work was being done by a firm of marine engineers from Lowestoft. This sort of sight (and site) has very largely disappeared although I believe a power house survives in Northern Ireland.

Latterly operated by Harcros Chemicals, this iron oxide pigment works had a powerhouse containing four Browett, Lindley compound steam engines driving alternators. The plant was still at work when photographed but has subsequently been scrapped. This view shows part of three sets. The middle set is being overhauled and the alternator rotor is seen bottom left.