In post-First World War Britain it was a bleak time. The electricity industry needed cheaper and more reliable energy supplies, and new methods to achieve this.

1925

Lord Weir chaired a committee that proposed the development of the Central Electricity Board (CEB), which would connect the most efficient power stations in Britain. This link would be established with a 'national gridiron'.

In 1926, these proposals were accepted and became recognised laws.

1935

The National Grid was born. There were seven grid areas established across Britain with control rooms in several major locations:

Newcastle

Leeds

Manchester

Birmingham

Bristol

London

Glasgow

1936

The National Grid was constructed within the expected time frame and on budget.

1937

One evening, a group of control room engineers combined all seven grid locations for the first time (without permission), and the grid system worked.

Moving forwards, CEB employees were given air raid training and shelters were built to protect the plant and equipment during the war.