Decommissioned 1960s power station, Bradwell Power Station, Bradwell-on-Sea (EHER 45967)

A nuclear power station designed by Maurice Bibb using the 'Magnox' design and constructed by The Nuclear Power Plant Company between 1957 and 1961. It began supplying electricity to the National Grid by 1962 and officially opened in 1963. It was the second power station in the UK to produce commercial electricity. The site ceased generating electricity in 2002 and decommissioning began in the same year. Defueling was completed in 2006 and in 2018, it entered the 'Care and Maintenance' (C&M) phase.

Bradwell is a first generation 'Magnox' power station and the second in the UK to produce commercial electricity. The station was positioned in an area considered to have the least minimal impact visually and environmentally. It was designed by Maurice Bibb. The contract to build the station went to a consortium called The Nuclear Power Plant Company. Work began in January 1957 and the first half of the station was completed by 1961. The 'Magnox' design plant comprises of two natural uranium, carbon-dioxide gas-cooled, graphite-moderated reactors supplying heat to twelve boiler units. The station had a maximum output capacity of 242MW and on a typical day could supply enough electricity to power three towns the size of Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend put together. The plant was built on ground raised to above the highest recorded flood level. The boilers were towed from the Tees to Bradwell. A huge crane was constructed on site, the Goliath crane, to lift the boilers into place within the biological shield walls of the reactor. By 1959, the internal fittings and machinery began to be installed. At its peak it employed over 500 people. Construction workers were housed in temporary accommodation at first. Later, employees were provided with housing in Tillingham, Latchingdon and Southminster but not Bradwell. It began supplying electricity to the National Grid by 1962 and officially opened in 1963. The visitor centre opened in 1994, and attracted 124,000 visitors until its closure in 2002. The site ceased generating electricity in 2002 and is currently being decommissioned (2006). <1> 2002. Desk-based assessment. All buildings and structures on the power station site date from the 1960s or later. The power station was part of the world's first commercial electricity programme using Magnox technology. The industrial archaeological potential is in the design and layout of the buildings and structures and in the surviving technology from the mid 20th century. <2> The site ceased generating electricity in 2002 and decommissioning began in the same year. Defueling was completed in 2006 and in 2018, it entered the 'Care and Maintenance' (C&M) phase. The remaining buildings at Bradwell are covered in weatherproof cladding and the site will be regularly monitored and inspected until final clearance, scheduled for 2083. <3> <4> See also <4>. September 2020. Geophysical survey. A geophysical survey identified magnetically disturbed areas caused by the construction of the current power station. <6>