Mary Tavy Power Station
near Tavistock, Devon
This is a small hydro-electric power station in the village of Mary Tavy.
It was opened in the 1930s by the Christy Brothers. It became a CEGB power station until privatization, when it was assigned to National Power. It is now owned by South West Water.
It is run by a handful of staff, who are proud to open it to the public on annual Heritage Open Days in September.
Leaflet here.
The station was built in two phases, taking water from two separate reservoirs. The Wheal Bennett reservoir supplies water at a head of 230 ft to power three Francis turbines. These drive Crompton Parkinson alternators at 1000 rpm to produce a maximum total output of 710 kW. The larger and higher Wheal Jewell reservoir supplies water to three Pelton wheels driving 650 kW alternators at 428 rpm.