Powering Loughborough
The First World War
During the First World War, the German Navy employed submarines (U-boats) with devastating success, sinking 5,798 British, Allied and neutral ships. The U-boats posed a significant threat to global maritime activity, disrupting supply lines and contributing to widespread losses at sea.
As a result, while the surface vessels of the German fleet were interned and monitored by the Allies after the war, the U-boats were deemed too dangerous to be left intact. The immediate surrender of the submarines was demanded due to the global concern over their effectiveness as a deadly war machine.
The First World War
The U-boats were set to be sold for scrap, allowing for the removal and reuse of engines, motors, and other equipment. However, under the terms of the armistice, none of this salvaged equipment could be repurposed for military use.
At the time, the UK was facing a shortage of electrical generation equipment; a situation worsened by ongoing coal shortages. A few electricity undertakings saw an opportunity and decided to repurpose the diesel engines and generators from the U-boats.
These components could be sourced and commissioned much more quickly than new equipment, providing a faster solution to the pressing demand for power generation.
1921
In 1921, during a visit by Loughborough College students to the Naval dockyard to remove dynamos, motors, compressors, fans, switchgear, and batteries from decommissioned U-boats for use in the College’s electrical training, Mr. J.F. Driver stood on the deck of U-boat U126 and envisioned something remarkable: a dedicated power station for Loughborough College.
In a letter to Herbert Schofield, Driver recalled, “I remember coming back and telling you of my dream. I must thank you for your help and encouragement when everybody else thought it would be a failure.”
His vision was bold: “A real generating station where half-hourly logs, continuous wattmeter, and voltage records were kept.”
With Schofield’s support, Driver’s dream took shape. On a site in Packe Street, a building for a generating station was constructed—designed not only to provide practical experience for students but also to serve as an operational power station. This facility would allow students to engage in real-time data collection, troubleshooting, and hands-on training in electrical generation and distribution.
The College Generating Station 1925
A Woodern Building
