Survey Data
Reg No
40910782
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Social, Technical
Previous Name
Cliff Hydroelectric Power Station
Original Use
Hydroelectric power station
In Use As
Hydroelectric power station
Date
1945 - 1960
Coordinates
193164, 358941
Date Recorded
02/02/2012
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Hydroelectric power station complex, built 1946 – c. 55, comprising a reinforced concrete dam to the east with associated sluices and overflows/spillways to the north and south, and having multi-storey flat-roofed generating building and associated structures to the west. Generating hall constructed of steel and reinforced concrete having flat steel-framed roof structure. Liner strip lighting at eaves level and full-height square-headed window openings to main generating hall having metal-framed windows with horizontal glazing pattern. Five grouped square-headed window openings to the end elevations of generating hall (north-east and south-west) having horizontal glazing pattern. Cement and/or roughcast rendered walls to buildings. Single-storey entrance building to the south-west of generating hall (on circular-plan) having square-headed window openings that curve along with elevation. Square-headed doors and carriage-arches having metal doors. Located to the north-west of Belleek, and to the south-east of Ballyshannon, spanning River Erne. Lake to west created by damming the Erne. Additional hydroelectric power station to the far end of lake adjacent to Ballyshannon (see 40852084).
Appraisal
This impressive large-scale hydroelectric power station is a significant element of the twentieth-century engineering heritage of Ireland. The main generating building itself is built in an austere minimalistic Modernist architectural style having flat-roofed block-like forms, linear strip lighting at eaves level, open steel roof structure, and a horizontal emphasis to the fenestration pattern. The interesting entrance building on circular-plan to the south-west of the generating hall is also reminiscent of the International Modern style en vogue at the time of construction. The interior of the main generating hall is an impressive open industrial space, containing two metal turbines. The dam itself is some 210 metres in length and rises to 18 metres in height. Works on this complex originally commenced in 1946, and the main contractor involved was Cementation Company Ltd., Doncaster. It represents one of two separate hydroelectric plants at either end of the artificial lake created by the dam – the other being at Cathleen's Falls (see 40852084) to the west. The Erne Scheme is the second largest hydroelectric station is Ireland after the celebrated Ardnacrusha Power Station (20405308) on the Shannon in County Clare. It is also of historical significance as the first significant act of co-operation between the North and the Republic since Independence. The construction of this power station was highly controversial as it necessitated the destruction of the celebrated beauty spot known as Assaroe Falls, as well as it involved the flooding and/or demolition of numerous buildings and historic monuments in the area, including a number of country houses in the vicinity of the dam lake (including Camlin Castle, Stonewold, Laputa and Cliff House, after which this station is named) as well as numerous farmhouses and vernacular houses, and the noted beauty spot known as Assaroe Falls. This substantial hydroelectric station is an integral element of the twentieth century built heritage and County Donegal, and of the wider engineering heritage of Ireland.