Deptford power station was designed by Sebastian Ziani de Ferranti for the London Electric Supply Corporation, in 1887. It was located to the west of Deptford Creek on a site once used by the East India Company. The main building was 64m long and 59.4m wide, supported on a 1.2m thick mass concrete raft foundation. It housed the four alternators, each weighing 508 tonnes. The scale of construction was unprecedented; the design pioneered the use of high voltage (10kV) AC current; capacity was 800kW.

The first electricity was supplied in November 1889. Ferranti left the London Electricity Supply Corporation in August 1891, after a series of setbacks as public confidence in the station dwindled. Smaller engines were then used instead of the 7,500kW engines. Ferranti was later awarded an honorary doctorate for his pioneering work, including the innovations at Deptford Power Station.

In 1900 the station was closed for six months for refurbishment, re-opening to growing demand for electricity. Until 1904, the electricity was supplied mostly for lighting but in 1909, the station began supplying electricity for railways.

The site’s generating capacity was enlarged with the addition of Deptford West power station in 1929 and Deptford East in 1957.

Deptford West was designed with large basements, which necessitated substantial retaining walls and block foundations. The preliminary work began in July 1926 and electricity was first generated in June 1929.

Demolition of the Ferranti station took place 1991-92, together with the removal of Deptford East station. Power generation ceased at Deptford in 1983.