'Power Generation Sites in Greenwich and Woolwich', by Mary Mills
112 pages, illustrated with photographs. Self-published 2026, distributed by Amazon, ₤15. ISBN 979 - 8199241953
This is a well produced book, carefully proofread and with some good illustrations. Rob Powell who was responsible for the layout is to be commended on his contributions to this impressive publication. Power Generation Sites in Greenwich and Woolwich is a worthy addition to the range of books which have been produced by our member Mary Mills.
A non-technical book aimed at the general reader who may not have thought a great deal about the subject previously, the book starts with wind and water mills, including tide mills, and covers coal, gas and electricity. Towards the end it also ventures to some extent into power distribution in that some electricity substations are included. Pages 49 to 86 are devoted to the gas industry and this could well be the best part of the book.
Energy-wise the tide has been a dominant feature of this part of London but when tide mills are discussed this is not made clear. An enormous amount of water flows in and out of London every 24 hours and has been invaluable in the past bringing ships and boats up to London and taking them back to the estuary again. The power of the tide was important bringing coal to the area and it could be used by skilled watermen to move lighters about the Port of London with surprisingly little effort.
This book can be warmly recommended for people in Greenwich interested in learning more about the industrial history of their Borough. It should deservedly also appeal to a wider readership. Bob Carr