It is now almost impossible to conceive of life in western Europe, either in the town or the country, without a reliable mains electricity supply. But it is worth remembering that for many of our grandparents electricity was something new, and that this was especially so in rural areas. By 1938 two-thirds of rural dwellings had been connected to the mains, but the majority of farms in Britain were not linked to a mains supply until some time between 1950 and 1970. Given the significance of electricity for modern life, the difficulties of supplying it to isolated communities, and the parallels with current discussions over the provision of high speed broadband connections, it is surprising that there has been little academic discussion of this vast and protracted undertaking. We know little about the timing or geography of rural electrification, about the providers, beneficiaries or indeed losers. The decision-making process that led to electrification remains unclear: how much local input was there? When, and to what extent, did local authorities become important players? How did the rise of planning impact electrification projects? What was the influence from Whitehall? If the process by which electrification occurred remains unclear, the consequences are even more so. Did the availability of consumer durables such as television, washing machines, refrigerators and hi-fi systems contribute to counter-urbanization? How did the process of rural electrification fit in with the concurrent rise of the preservationist discourse? What was the 'e~right kind'e(tm) of pylon? This edited collection of essays shows how this new technology changed rural life in the twentieth century. Specifically, it explores the impact of electrification on rural Britain, with comparisons with other countries and times.

It is concerned not only with the changing availability and different forms of electrical supplies to various parts of the country, but also with the effects of electrification on domestic and economic life and on rural culture.