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Season 2024 – Talk 12 – The Wonders of Electricity
In ‘The Wonders of Electricity’ Andrew Cole looks at the history of electricity from it’s earliest days and the effect it has had on life.
Introduction:
We take electricity for granted. You can’t see it, you can’t smell it and you can’t hear it, but you’d be most unwise to touch it, let alone taste it. Electricity is essential for much that we do in our modern daily lives.
Early days:
Cragside, in Northumberland, is the first house in the world to have electric lighting. William Armstrong, the industrialist, installs it after a lecture by Joseph Swan of light bulb fame. Initially there are 45 lamps; however a maximum of 37 can be on at the same time. More lights cause the generator, fed by hydropower, to cut out.
At this time electricity competes with gas and candles for lighting. There is no source of public electricity so it is the preserve of the wealthy, with a light bulb costing the same as the average weekly wage.
Following Cragside’s lead, electricity comes to the London law courts, the Savoy Theatre and the ballroom at Buckingham Palace.
Queen Victoria is impressed. She orders that the whole palace is to have electric light.
The birth of public electricity:
Godalming may have few claims to fame, but this is one of them. As towns and cities start to introduce electric street lighting, Godalming council decides to allow lighting for both the street and private houses from a single generator. The switch on, in September 1881, is heralded in the press.
The battle with other power sources:
Electricity has to compete with coal and gas to gain acceptance in the home. Andrew tells of the long campaign by using various household items as examples.
Listen to Andrew tell us the full story of the growth of electricity over the past 170 years.
About this podcast:
This is an edited recording of a talk given to the Farnham u3a World History: Ancient, Medieval and Modern Group.
This podcast is also available through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Podchaser, Spotify, YouTube and others.
AKM Music licenses Media Magazine for use with this talk.
© The MrT Podcast Studio and Farnham u3a World History: Ancient, Medieval and Modern Group 2018 – 2025