Lochan Shira, Sron Mor Power Station

Sron Mor power station forms part of the second phase expansion of the Sloy catchment from 1959 onwards. It is the upper station of a small cascade with water received from Shira Dam (see separate item) and passing through the station before the tailrace exist into the Lower Shira Dam (see separate item) the water then passing to Clachan Power Station (see separate item). The station contains a single overshot turbine by English Electric Company. The station was initially used as pumped storage and is an early example of the use of this technology in Scotland. Sron Mor power station is an example of a smaller intermediate station forming a component of a larger scheme. The architectural scheme is a good example of the emerging ‘vernacular modernism’ which was adopted by NoSHEB with the architectural design panel under James Shearer. The station is a good example of the use of local coursed random rubble for the facings of both power stations and dams constructed by NoSHEB. The station was initially designed for pumped storage, with water pumped from the lower reservoir back into the upper, in an early example of the adoption of this technology. P L Payne, 1988, 5; E Wood, 2002, 38; J Miller, 2002.