It was 25 years ago when explosions and the crash of debris drowned out the applause and cheers which erupted during the demolition of the Great Yarmouth Power Station.

But today we are turning back the clocks to the 1950s and exploring the facility during its construction and early days.

Eastern Daily Press: Technicians at work in a control room for the Great Yarmouth Power Station. Date: September 22, 1958.Technicians at work in a control room for the Great Yarmouth Power Station. Date: September 22, 1958. (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: South Denes Power Station under construction at Great Yarmouth on March 28, 1956.South Denes Power Station under construction at Great Yarmouth on March 28, 1956. (Image: Archant Library)

In the spring of 1954 excavation for the station's foundations commenced and 900 people were employed there during the peak construction years.

At the time the town felt huge excitement and enthusiasm for the new power station. Some observers floated the idea that the electricity generator would increase the temperature of the sea nearby.

Eastern Daily Press: A worker on a walkway inside Great Yarmouth Power Station in 1957 before it officially opened in 1958.A worker on a walkway inside Great Yarmouth Power Station in 1957 before it officially opened in 1958. (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: Technicians stand by scientific equipment and look over reports inside the Great Yarmouth Power Station in 1957.Technicians stand by scientific equipment and look over reports inside the Great Yarmouth Power Station in 1957. (Image: Archant Library)

This intriguing notion was, of course, false, but the speculation arose from the fact that the nine million gallons of water pumped out every hour from the station would be 10 degrees warmer than the sea it entered.

The design of the building was approved by the Fine Arts Commission and many contemporary commentators insisted it would become a showpiece development project.

Eastern Daily Press: Inside the Great Yarmouth Power Station at South Denes, which officially opened on September 26, 1958. Date: September 22, 1958.Inside the Great Yarmouth Power Station at South Denes, which officially opened on September 26, 1958. Date: September 22, 1958. (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: Machinery inside the Great Yarmouth Power Station at South Denes. Date: September 22, 1958.Machinery inside the Great Yarmouth Power Station at South Denes. Date: September 22, 1958. (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: A glimpse inside the Great Yarmouth Power Station on September 22, 1958. The facility was demolished on May 5, 1997.A glimpse inside the Great Yarmouth Power Station on September 22, 1958. The facility was demolished on May 5, 1997. (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: Towering machinery inside one of the buildings at the Great Yarmouth Power Station. Date: September 22, 1958.Towering machinery inside one of the buildings at the Great Yarmouth Power Station. Date: September 22, 1958. (Image: Archant Library)

Its admirers included Sir Edmund Bacon who officially opened the station in the autumn of 1958 in his capacity as Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk.

During the impressive civic ceremony, he declared: "In these days we have our feelings about modern art, modern music and modern this and modern that. We may like them or we may dislike them. But I do think that modern industrial architecture does stand out, and I find this great building gives one great pleasure."

Eastern Daily Press: Towering machinery inside one of the buildings at the Great Yarmouth Power Station. Date: September 22, 1958.Towering machinery inside one of the buildings at the Great Yarmouth Power Station. Date: September 22, 1958. (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: The pleasure tripper Norwich Belle sails past the redundant herring reduction plant in 1964, which was built to process surplus catches but the industry went into decline quickly and it shut in 1963. Upstream is the South Denes Power Station, also long gone.The pleasure tripper Norwich Belle sails past the redundant herring reduction plant in 1964, which was built to process surplus catches but the industry went into decline quickly and it shut in 1963. Upstream is the South Denes Power Station, also long gone. (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: The Great Yarmouth Power Station captured at dusk seen from across the river. Date: August 18, 1959.The Great Yarmouth Power Station captured at dusk seen from across the river. Date: August 18, 1959. (Image: Archant Library)

The power station had a 360-foot chimney — 45 feet higher than Norwich Cathedral spire making it the county’s tallest structure.

Extensions were completed by 1960 and the facility operated until the late 1980s when it was decommissioned.

At 7:30am on May 5, 1997 the Great Yarmouth skyline changed forever when 100kg of Semtex explosives toppled the 3500 tons chimney and demolished the boilerhouse — closing one chapter in the history of the town's energy industry.

Did you work at the Great Yarmouth Power Station or attend its demolition? Email benjamin.craske@archant.co.uk with your memories.

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Eastern Daily Press: The Great Yarmouth Power Station came tumbling down on May 5, 1997 when 100kg of Semtex demolished the two remaining structures.The Great Yarmouth Power Station came tumbling down on May 5, 1997 when 100kg of Semtex demolished the two remaining structures. (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: Dust billows from the wreckage of what was the Great Yarmouth Power Station after it was demolished on the morning of May 5, 1997.Dust billows from the wreckage of what was the Great Yarmouth Power Station after it was demolished on the morning of May 5, 1997. (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: The chimney of the Great Yarmouth Power Station came tumbling down on May 5, 1997 when 100kg of Semtex demolished the two remaining structures.The chimney of the Great Yarmouth Power Station came tumbling down on May 5, 1997 when 100kg of Semtex demolished the two remaining structures. (Image: Archant Library)

Eastern Daily Press: The Great Yarmouth Power Station came tumbling down on May 5, 1997 when 100kg of Semtex demolished the two remaining structures.The Great Yarmouth Power Station came tumbling down on May 5, 1997 when 100kg of Semtex demolished the two remaining structures. (Image: Archant Library)