View On Black Battersea Power Station is a now disused coal-fired power station located on the south bank of the River Thames, near Battersea in London. The station comprises two individual power stations, built in two stages in the form of a single building. Battersea A Power Station was built first in the 1930s, with Battersea B Power Station to its east in the 1950s. The two stations were built to an identical design, providing the well known, four chimney layout. In 1975 the "A" station with its sumptuous Art Deco control room, Italian marble turbine hall polished parquet floors and wrought iron staircases was closed after generating electricity for 42 years. Three years later, amid rumours that "B" station was also to close, a campaign was begun to save Battersea Power Station as part of the national heritage. Pressure to preserve the station grew and, in 1980, the then Secretary of State for the Environment, Michael Heseltine, awarded Grade 2 status to the building for special architectural and historic interest, so ensuring that it could not be demolished or altered without the governments consent. Explored: 40 on Saturday, May 9, 2009