Title:
RECORDS OF JAMES LINTON, MANAGER OF THE SOUTHEND DISTRICT, EASTERN ELECTRICITY BOARD
Level: Category
Estate and Family records
Level: Fonds
RECORDS OF JAMES LINTON, MANAGER OF THE SOUTHEND DISTRICT, EASTERN ELECTRICITY BOARD
Scope and Content:
Papers relating to the Southend District of the Eastern Electricity Board (formerly the Southend Electricity Supply Undertaking), most, if not all, generated by or connected with Mr James Linton, former District Manager. They include photographs of Southend illuminations and ceremonial occasions in which Mr Linton took part and notes for talks on the history of electricity and the work of the industry in Essex and Southend.

In 1891 Southend Corporation obtained an order under the Electric Lighting Acts 1882 and 1888, but no positive action was taken to provide electricity in the town until, after pressure from the Board of Trade in 1900, preparations were made to generate a supply. In 1901 a tram service was inaugurated and in 1902 the first domestic consumer was connected. From then on the Southend Electricity Supply Undertaking, run by the Corporation, fought a continuous battle to keep pace with demand. It was won only in 1929 when a bulk supply was obtained form the County of London Electric Supply Company's power station at Barking. In 1933 Southend's street lighting was converted from gas to electricity.

The illuminations in Southend began in the 1920s, when the bandstand was illuminated. This was followed by floodlighting on the cliffs and of prominent buildings in the town, including St Mary's Church and Southchurch Hall. Illumination on a large scale was first undertaken in 1935, when the seafront, gardens and cliffs from Crowstone Avenue in the west to Walton Road in the east were illuminated with floodlighting, lanterns, giant flowers and set pieces or tableaux.

An Act of 1947 nationalised the electricity industry under the British Electricity Authority and on 1 April 1948 the Authority took over responsibility from the 205 private companies and 373 municipal undertakings operating at that time. Under the central Authority, 14 Area Boards were responsible for distribution. The Eastern Electricity Board was divided into 6 sub-areas, Essex being one. Essex Sub-Area was further divided into 6 districts. The Southend District comprised the area of the former Southend Undertaking plus part of the former County Company's area (Hadleigh, Canvey, South Benfleet, Pitsea, Vange, Laindon, Billericay, Wickford, Battlesbridge etc.) - altogether an area of 147 square miles. Work in the Southend District was carried out by four Sections: Accountancy, Engineering, Commercial and Secretarial.

James Linton joined the Undertaking after 1925 and was involved with the installation of high tension cables in 1927. By 1958 he was Manager of the Southend District. The job involved a responsibility for public relations, including giving talks. By 1979 he had retired and in that year was President of the Southend-on-Sea and District Electrical Circle.