PARWICH.ORG

This week Central Networks will be demolishing the old Carbide Shed on the Memorial site to create a larger replacement shed to house the new electricity sub-station. The demolition work should begin on Tuesday 01/09/09 and is likely to take 2-3 days.

Parwich Parish Council and the Memorial Hall Committee have contacted the immediate neighbours, and they apologise for any inconvenience this work may cause.

This will be followed by the creation of a new sub-station on this site, cabling work along Main Street from the shed towards the old Spar Shop to connect the new sub-station to the mains cables, and work along the foot path to disconnect the old sub-station at the south end of the current Memorial Hall. This electrical work is scheduled to start on the 10th or 11th of September and is planned to take 10 days.

The new substation will temporarily be protected by ‘Heras’ type fencing, and the stone from the old shed stored on site, whilst the new shed permanently housing the sub-station equipment is erected. The new shed will be larger than the old one but set back from the road, improving the visibility for vehicles entering and leaving the Memorial Hall car park.

It is particularly appropriate that the Carbide Shed (pictured to the left) should be used for the new electricity sub-station, as prior to mains electricity coming to the village it was used to power various lights in the village. In the early nineteenth century an acetylene gas generator was placed in this pre-existing stone shed. Mixing water with calcium carbide produces acetylene gas, which here was used to power several street lights, and to light Parwich Hall and the Church. (For more information on Carbide Lights see Wikipedia.)

The existing Electricity Sub-station at the south end of the Hall

Central Networks had previous approached Parwich Parish Council and the Memorial Hall Committee about renewing the Sub-Station equipment and will meet the full cost of the new sub-station and building the enlarged shed. The removal of the old sub-station will allow the creation of the enclosed garden area to the south of the new Memorial Hall.

As see from the road, the planned replacement shed on the left will house the new electricity sub-station (the building on the right is Fernlea’s cart shed)