Restored ‘Jolly Green Giant’ stands tall once more
A rare vintage electricity substation affectionately dubbed the ‘Jolly Green Giant’ has been restored and returned to pride of place on a Surrey village green.
UK Power Networks, owner of the decommissioned 1914 Grade II listed substation, hired specialist conservators to preserve the pillar – one of few surviving examples of early domestic electrification, which had a dramatic impact on British domestic life.
In December, the 1.5-tonne cast iron pillar was craned onto a lorry and transported 45 miles to an East London workshop to undergo careful restoration work. The community has now welcomed its return to Kingswood in mint condition, where the historic landmark has even been compared to Dr Who’s Tardis.
The local landmark, as old as the Kingswood North estate, originally housed a transformer that distributed the first power supplies to the area. After the transformer was relocated from Beech Drive, it is believed internal equipment was removed and it now functions solely as a streetlight in The Glade.
Emma Machin, surveyor at UK Power Networks and leader of the restoration project, said: “The ‘Jolly Green Giant’ can stand tall once more in the heart of Kingswood, linking our past to our future and highlighting how far we’ve come in harnessing electricity for a more sustainable future.
“The original substation had a revolutionary impact on daily lives when it was first installed, bringing electricity to homes for the first time. With so few surviving substation pillars on public view we were delighted to work with the residents and conservators to ensure this example continues to play a positive part in the Kingswood community.”
Emma was amazed by the transformation of the substation which she said was looking ‘quite forlorn’. Adam Gooding, metalwork conservator at Rupert Harris Conservation, said: “Structurally it was in good condition, but it was time to have some new life breathed into it. We stripped the failing paint, corrosion and rust to give a new surface for a fresh coat of paint.
“It is always satisfying to work on an unusual object, especially something which has significance to the local community and it’s nice to see it transformed into a condition much closer to how it would have looked.”
The addition of late 20th century light fixtures on top of the pillar has been replaced for period-style street lamps, more in keeping with the era. The substation had been painted several times, and the original colour was closely matched through paint analysis on a similar substation that UK Power Networks restored in Wimbledon in 2023.
William Rockall, director for estate care, Kingswood North Estate Company Limited (KNECL), said: “On behalf of the KNECL road association and the wider Kingswood community I would like to say how delighted we are to see the restoration and return of the electricity transformer, fondly known as The Jolly Green Giant, to the village green at the junction of The Glade and Forest Drive. Over the past 80 or so years the transformer has become an iconic landmark and a focal point for the Kingswood North Estate in particular, forming part of the company’s logo. It has been much missed since its removal before Christmas; however, the results have been well worth the wait, and we would all like to thank UK Power Networks for funding such a splendid piece of restoration."
Records suggest less than 6% of the domestic population had electricity when the Kingswood substation pillar was installed around the time of World War One, when electricity was still an aspirational luxury. The substation’s arrival would have been part of the fragmented early introduction of electricity that revolutionised domestic life.
Although it is rare for utility infrastructure to have special historic interest, the electricity transformer pillar has been Grade II listed by Historic England in recognition of its importance and special interest. Other unusual examples of listed buildings include a fish-shaped RNLI collection box, and a 19th century urinal in Westminster.
In 2020, as a mark of the community’s affection for the pillar, the road association, Kingswood North Estate Company Limited (KNECL), included the substation in their logo.
Two short videos from the restoration project are available:
• A look behind the scenes with the restoration team: watch the video
• ‘Jolly Green Giant’ returns to Kingswood: watch the video
Published: 09/09/2026
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UK Power Networks, owner of the decommissioned 1914 Grade II listed substation, hired specialist conservators to preserve the pillar – one of few surviving examples of early domestic electrification, which had a dramatic impact on British domestic life.
In December, the 1.5-tonne cast iron pillar was craned onto a lorry and transported 45 miles to an East London workshop to undergo careful restoration work. The community has now welcomed its return to Kingswood in mint condition, where the historic landmark has even been compared to Dr Who’s Tardis.
The local landmark, as old as the Kingswood North estate, originally housed a transformer that distributed the first power supplies to the area. After the transformer was relocated from Beech Drive, it is believed internal equipment was removed and it now functions solely as a streetlight in The Glade.
Emma Machin, surveyor at UK Power Networks and leader of the restoration project, said: “The ‘Jolly Green Giant’ can stand tall once more in the heart of Kingswood, linking our past to our future and highlighting how far we’ve come in harnessing electricity for a more sustainable future.
“The original substation had a revolutionary impact on daily lives when it was first installed, bringing electricity to homes for the first time. With so few surviving substation pillars on public view we were delighted to work with the residents and conservators to ensure this example continues to play a positive part in the Kingswood community.”
Emma was amazed by the transformation of the substation which she said was looking ‘quite forlorn’. Adam Gooding, metalwork conservator at Rupert Harris Conservation, said: “Structurally it was in good condition, but it was time to have some new life breathed into it. We stripped the failing paint, corrosion and rust to give a new surface for a fresh coat of paint.
“It is always satisfying to work on an unusual object, especially something which has significance to the local community and it’s nice to see it transformed into a condition much closer to how it would have looked.”
The addition of late 20th century light fixtures on top of the pillar has been replaced for period-style street lamps, more in keeping with the era. The substation had been painted several times, and the original colour was closely matched through paint analysis on a similar substation that UK Power Networks restored in Wimbledon in 2023.
William Rockall, director for estate care, Kingswood North Estate Company Limited (KNECL), said: “On behalf of the KNECL road association and the wider Kingswood community I would like to say how delighted we are to see the restoration and return of the electricity transformer, fondly known as The Jolly Green Giant, to the village green at the junction of The Glade and Forest Drive. Over the past 80 or so years the transformer has become an iconic landmark and a focal point for the Kingswood North Estate in particular, forming part of the company’s logo. It has been much missed since its removal before Christmas; however, the results have been well worth the wait, and we would all like to thank UK Power Networks for funding such a splendid piece of restoration."
Records suggest less than 6% of the domestic population had electricity when the Kingswood substation pillar was installed around the time of World War One, when electricity was still an aspirational luxury. The substation’s arrival would have been part of the fragmented early introduction of electricity that revolutionised domestic life.
Although it is rare for utility infrastructure to have special historic interest, the electricity transformer pillar has been Grade II listed by Historic England in recognition of its importance and special interest. Other unusual examples of listed buildings include a fish-shaped RNLI collection box, and a 19th century urinal in Westminster.
In 2020, as a mark of the community’s affection for the pillar, the road association, Kingswood North Estate Company Limited (KNECL), included the substation in their logo.
Two short videos from the restoration project are available:
• A look behind the scenes with the restoration team: watch the video
• ‘Jolly Green Giant’ returns to Kingswood: watch the video
Published: 09/09/2026
Back to news