The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) constructed two nuclear power stations in Gloucestershire. Berkeley Nuclear Power Station first supplied electricity to the national grid in 1962 and ceased generation in 1989. Oldbury Nuclear Power Station supplied electricity to the national grid between 1967 and 2012.

The declared net electrical output of the two stations were 276 MWe and 434 MWe, respectively. Both stations had two reactors of the “Magnox type”. Berkeley utilised steel reactor pressure vessels while Oldbury’s were made of prestressed reinforced concrete.

Just south of the Berkeley site was Berkeley Nuclear Laboratories (BNL), the CEGB’s main nuclear power industry research centre, which was set up in the early 1960s. At its peak about 750 staff worked at BNL including 220 scientists and engineers.

The CEGB (and its successor companies) produced various illustrated booklets and brochures to inform the general public about the design and operation of its nuclear power stations and the work of the Laboratories. Some of those produced for Berkeley, Oldbury and BNL are available to download below.

The Vistors Guide to Oldbury Power Station (c.1989) covers a range of topics such as nuclear fission, radiation, environmental monitoring, management of radio-active waste as well as a detailed and well illustrated account of the station and its operation.

Berkeley & Bradwell Nuclear Power Stations     (1963)     62 pages       Download

Oldbury Nuclear Power Station     (1966)     24 pages       Download

Berkeley Nuclear Laboratories     (1969)     28 pages       Download

Berkeley Power Station     (1976)     12 pages       Download

Berkeley Nuclear Laboratories     (1977)     27 pages       Download

Berkeley Nuclear Laboratories: Open Days 4-7 June 1986     (1986)     24 pages       Download

CEGB Research Division: Structural Integrity Unit     (c.1986)     6 pages       Download

How Berkeley Nuclear Power Station Will Be Closed Down     (1988)     6 pages       Download

Berkeley Nuclear Power Station     (c.1988)     39 pages       Download

Oldbury on Severn Nuclear Power Station: Vistors Guide     (c.1989)     40 pages       Download

Oldbury Power Station (tour leaflet)     (1996)     40 pages       Download

Ray Wilson
Research Officer with the CEGB and successor companies
1972 -2012