CHIS Lamp posts
Maggie Shapland
3 lantern light in Alma Rd
Contents
- Introduction
- Protection of Street Lighting
- Street Light Survey and Strategy in a Conservation Area
- Lamp post stories
- Sion Hill Lamp Post
- Clifton Down Road
- Christchurch Road lamp post
- Suspension Bridge lights
- Removal of grade II listed lamp posts
- Removal of grade II listed lamp post in Clifton Park
- Princess Victoria Street problems
- Lamp post in the Mall
- Examples of how lamp posts contribute to Good Streetscape
Introduction
The first exterior gas lighting appeared in Birmingham in 1802, Pall Mall in London was the first thoroughfare to be lit. Prior to this, streets were lit with oil lamps integrated into area railings. Owners of larger residences were often ordered to provide lanterns to help passes by see their way. Evidence of lamp holders are still to be seen, such as in Richmond Terrace, Cornwallis Crescent and The Mall.In 1815 a decision was made to form a company ‘for lighting the streets, shops and other buildings of Bristol with gas’; by the end of 1817 all the principal streets were supplied, with 1050 lamps in use by 1823. In 1824 a few gaslights and night-constables were established in Clifton as a result of the Lighting and Watching Act. By 1850 nearly 2,000 lights were in use; by 1881 there were 4,274, improved due to mantle development. The Victoria Rooms’ three lamp group were 300-candle power.
In 1898 electric 'arc' lamps extended to main thoroughfares in Clifton, having been used from 1893. In 1900 there were 311, by 1911, 695. 48 of these tall posts survive in 17 streets, including two arc lights in the Mall (one a replica after an incident with a lorry). Clifton has 52 Grade II listed lamp posts (38 tall, 21 short).
Clifton has a fascinating collection of historic street furniture, some of which is listed. Street furniture, including letter boxes, lamp standards, and other details, enlivens the street scene but also reflects the history of the area. The appropriate maintenance and protection of this is important, as is the need to prevent modern street clutter detracting from its setting. Lamp posts
64 per cent of the streets have cast iron lamp posts. The majority were made by Bristol foundries. Many have traditional lanterns. Canygne Square and Cobblestone Mews still have lights lit by gas. They are a feature of Clifton and residents quite rightly get upset when removed.
Many of the lamp posts in Clifton are listed, particularly the tall arc posts. Indeed BS8 has more listed posts than anywhere else in Bristol
| postcode | Count |
| bs1 Centre | 31 |
| bs2 Horfield | 1 |
| bs4 St Phillips | 1 |
| bs6 St Andrews | 1 |
| bs8 Clifton | 62 |
| bs10 Henbury | 5 |
| bs16 Stapleton | 2 |
Protection of Street Lighting
In January 2015, the Building Conservation Directory said:Listing varies radically across the UK. A quick search for `lamp post' in the National Heritage List for England reveals 400 entries for lamp posts, 88 of which are in or around Bristol. In Wales there are 29 list entries of which over half are in Llandudno. In Scotland, on the other hand, there are 800 list entries for lamp standards and holders. Many of our great Victorian cities have none.
In Bristol the high priority given to the historic streetscape is due to the tireless commitment of a community group, the Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society. Initially consulted on a conservation area appraisal, CHIS developed a system for recording the different types of lamp post found locally, enabling a comprehensive audit of surviving examples in the conservation area. As a result, their protection was enshrined in conservation area policy in 2010, and the system has been adopted in neighbouring Redland. CHIS now works closely with the local authority to ensure surviving examples are at least retained in situ, and salvaged examples in the yard of the lighting department are being reinstated in key locations where possible.
While Georgian light fittings are generally well protected by listing, and are usually in private ownership, Victorian street lights remain at risk and their numbers are dwindling, particularly in England and Wales. Urgent action is required to secure their future.
Street Light Survey and Strategy in a Conservation Area
Articles written by Maggie Shapland have been published in the Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society Journal.- Journal 41 2008 Survey of Cast Iron Lamp Posts in Clifton and Hotwlls, Bristol BS8
- Journal 44 2011 Update on lamp posts
Survey summary of all the lamp posts and lanterns in BS8
- July 09: Response from Lighting Dept: Regarding future programmes for street lighting in Clifton, the original policy has now been
reintroduced with a couple of
amendments. The main being that we are to consult with all residents and identify whether they wish to have lighting improvements.
This effectively means that residents in non-conservation areas will be allowed to keep their cast iron columns if they do not wish for their road
to have increased lighting levels.
This could impact on the conservation areas in that, if the majority of residents in non-conservation areas wish to keep their cast columns then we may not have enough spare to reuse in the conservation areas. Therefore, we may have to install steel columns in some conservation areas should the majority of residents in the street consulted wish to have improvements (this could lead to some streets having both cast and steel columns). - Jun 09: Still no response so yet another letter
- April 09: Wrote Another letter again questioning ambiguities. Incongruous lighting and communication problems discussed at Neighbourhood Partnership meeting.
- Feb 09: A response from the Head of lighting justifying the actions taken by the lighting department
- Jan 09: Another letter questioning the amiguouities of the lighting strategy, and the answers from the Commission
- 4 Dec 08: Attended Transport Scrutiny Commission discuss lamp posts again. I got some answers to my questions
about the strategy of appropriate lamp posts in Clifton not being followed. It has also been confirmed that none have been sold.
- 1 Dec 08: I have looked at the cast iron lamp posts again in BS8, and have written a paper for the Bristol Industrial Archaeology Society. By looking at the manufacturers plates it is possible to roughly date them. All the short posts were cast in Bristol.
- Sept 08: Bristol City Council revisited its plans to remove Victorian cast iron lamp posts
in non-conservation areas after protests in St Andrew's in June,
when one resident chained himself to an antique lamppost to stop it being replaced.
They say it would cost an extra £1.2 million to keep all the Victorian lights in the city,
because modern ones would need to be fitted in between them to increase lighting levels.
Instead, the council wants to pay an extra £90,000 to allow some cast iron lamps to remain in place in cul-de-sacs,
and to paint all modern lamp posts in the city black to improve their appearance.
A further meeting was called for to give the counsellors more facts on which to decide
The council said it replaced the old lamps with more modern streetlights to improve security. - May 08: We applaud the globe lanterns on new posts in the Triangle, and University Road and hope to see the same in the Mall when the new development has finished
- May 08: I have now done a survey of all the lamp posts and lanterns in BS8 and found an amazing variety, particularly cast iron ones. This will be used as part of the updated Clifton Conservation Area statement. First step will be to use this to bring back more appropriate lights in Christchurch Rd and Clifton Park Road rather than the incongruous odd new ones which stick out like a sore thumb.
- March 08: In an endeavour to find out what the Council policy towards lighting after several lanterns had been replaced inappropriately, I wrote this letter and received the following informative report outlining Council Lighting Strategy.
Lamp post stories
Sion Hill Lamp Post
This is a 5 year saga to get a listed lamp post repaired and put back. Delays were caused by the insurance company not admitting liability. I thank the Lighting Department for their perseverance. The full saga was written up in the August 2015 CHIS newsletter.- 6 October 2015:
First dig a deep hole
new H&S laws and design criteria now well over specified and hence the massive root section we have,
which is over half a meter wide (620mm) and 1.3m deep.
Apparently its to do with the weight of the bracket and the size of column base, weight and windage etc.
We were hoping we could have something similar to the original, but alas we have this massive foundation,
so we can not put it back in its original place
Once in place, concrete poured into the hole. The post was installed 2 weeks later.
Lift the post in
Bolt it down and make it level
Put the cable in and thread it down the post.
Great background of the Suspension Bridge
lift the top on.
The light will arrive in 5 days time and the post painted - 2 October 2014
Patiently waiting in the yard. Beautiful detail on the top of the post
Repaired post - 29 July 2010: A Council lorry hit a car and then ran into the listed arc lamp post at the corner of Caledonia Place and Princes Buildings (it had a tapered post like the ones in the Mall, rather than the more
normal fluted cylindrical base).
A resident saw it happen and was also keen for it to be returned. I sent pictures of the post in place to the Lighting Department and asked for updates.
Distinctive post in a very prominent location
In the yard after being knocked down
Temporary post looks best when foggy!
Clifton Down Road
More detail about this problemOctober 2015: The Council is receiving serious complaints about the loss of street lighting at the junction of Boyces Ave. The cast iron lighting column was removed in September 2014, and temporary work lights put up. When the hoarding was added in August 2014 the temporary lighting was removed. The Council has told the developer where the lighting units should be placed. Each of the six units should provide illumination L.E.D. equivalent to a 100 watt lamp. They are required to do so by the conditions of the hoarding licence.
September 2014: CHIS is keeping a close watch on what is happening at the Clifton Down Road development and were actively involved on site to prevent another lamp post being removed.
 Andy Rugman (lighting technician) scratching his head while Brian and Maggie and the Ellises talk to the developer |
 Maggie and the Ellis sisters looking relieved as the street light is put back |
 Original Cast Iron Street lamp back and looking lovely. Just need the other one back |
The lighting technicians were unhappy that Kings Road and Boyces Avenue would be unlit and that temporary lights should have been requested in their place.
We have subsequently been told by Peter Tisdale from THAT Property Group that the lamp posts were being removed prior to the demolition of the buildings so that they could be safely stored and in due course replaced. This was a somewhat premature act because appropriate planning permission had not been granted and it would be unlawful to demolish without that permission.
Christchurch Road lamp post
Our longest saga- started me off on the interest to preserve our lamp posts. This post even appears in the Clifton CHaracter Appraisal to show where not to put a modern post. This lamp post has led to many emails, many appearances at Council meetings. Thanks Steve and Andy for finally resolving this!
23 July 2013: The temporary post in Christchurch Rd finally removed and replaced by a far more suitable one! |
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This incongruous light outside grade II* building and adjacent to a grade II* terrace, replaced a steel post and traditional lantern paid for by residents in Nov 07- supposed to be temporary but still there in 2013. It breaks lighting strategy of a Conservation Area in relation to listed buildings |
Suspension Bridge lights
March 2013: cast iron lamposts being installed on the suspension bridge.In August 2012: planning application 12/03632/F | To install 6 no. supplementary footpath lamp standards to the Clifton approach of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. | Suspension Bridge Suspension Bridge Road Bristol
12/P/1434/F: Installation of 6 footpath lamp standards to the Leigh Woods approach to the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Clifton Suspension Bridge Bridge Road Leigh Woods BS8 3PA (N. Somerset Council)
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Virtually all Bristol cast lamp posts have Bristol manufacturers plates on which is great because they can then be dated. Since these posts have been restored their plates are very clear. You will see that there are five posts by the Bristol Foundry Company who made the biggest variety of lamp posts from 1881 to 1958, one by CE Gurney (1870-1886) who started off as a tin plate worker and ironmonger and progressed to a fern case and lamp manufacturer, one by Jones (1874-90) who was an iron founder, and one indeterminate one that is very likely to be Edward Crawford (1881 to 1912)
Removal of grade II listed lamp posts
Always seems to take 3 years to get listed lamp posts repaired and returned- April 2012: Tender document being written for the grade II listed half round large lamp post at the corner of Sion Hill and Caledonia Place- similarly hit by a dustcart in August 2010. It too is funded by insurance
- April 2012: In April 2012 we have now got repaired and put back under insurance a grade II listed lamp post from Clifton Park just by the Roman Catholic Cathedral. It was knocked down by a Council dustcart in 21 Sept 09. It was a particularly fine specimen with very ornate ladder rests, and had a traditional lantern. It also had a separate adjacent feeder pillar so was electrically safe too. It was also a very substantial post so very unlikely to have rotted. Any person looking at this post should surely have been aware that it was out of the ordinary. It was even well looked after and freshly painted!
- August 2009: Half round lamp post replaced at the junction of Royal York Crescent and York Gardens. Knocked down by a lorry in July 2008
- June 2008: Early arc lamp post replaced at the junction of the Mall and West Mall. Knocked down by a lorry in 2005
Removal of grade II listed lamp post in Clifton Park
The reference and picture can be seen on Images of England and described BRISTOL ST5773NW CLIFTON PARK, Clifton 901-1/2/804 (South West side) Gas lamp post approximately 50 metres south of RC Cathedral (not included) GV II Gas lamp post. Mid C19. Cast-iron. A moulded base with foliate end to a reeded shaft, ornate switch bars and a square lantern. Converted to electricity.
I also enclose my own pictures of it to show what a glorious post it was.
Note the fine detail | 
note the feeder pillar |
ornate ladder rest and traditional lantern |
replaced by another later cast iron post with modern light. |
The lighting department was sent my paper on cast iron lamp posts of Clifton that was published this year, so they would have been aware of its age.
I only noticed that it had gone when I was participating in a photographic project for the Bristol Museum Service. I took several Council officials to show them the lamp post and we were all horrified that it had gone.
- March 2012: Replacement lamp post back in place! Looks good
- August 2010: Confirmation that the lamp post has been stolen from yard. I told lighting department to make a casting from a post in Canyngne Square which was identical.
- 23 October 09: After discussions with English Heritage, Conservation Advisory Panel, Council Conservation Department, the Head of
Lighting has now confirmed that the post can be repaired, and that it will be back in position in January/February.
Repair will be covered by insurance, and it will have a traditional lantern again.
English Heritage has also confirmed that no application for delisting has been received, and that one has to prepare a good case for delisting historic street furniture anyway. - 22 September: Jon Bishop, Co-ordinator of Planning Enforcement has investigated the situation and concluded accidental damage.
Consequently, the original asset will now be de-listed.
Why don't they repair this historic post? It would be covered by Council insurance. So if it is accidental damage it is OK to delist it, but if purposeful damage it gets mended?
I accept a cast iron post has been placed there- far preferable to a replica- it is after all outside a grade II listed cathedral so it is some improvement on the modern lamp post outside grade II* listed Christchurch in Christchurch Road- to which I got the response "I accept that you disagree but I stand by my original response and will not be drawn into this debate further" - 22 Sept 09: Head of lighting says: "The column was hit down in a road traffic accident and was destroyed.
We have no legal duty to replace any listed column with a replica although we will be using a cast column from our
stockpile."
Sigh- I do not want a replica. I want the old one mended. - 10 Sept 09: A grade II listed lamp post has been removed from Clifton Park just by the Roman Catholic Cathedral. It was knocked down by a Council dustcart. It was a particularly fine specimen with very ornate ladder rests, and had a traditional lantern. It also had a separate adjacent feeder pillar so was electrically safe too. It was also a very substantial post so very unlikely to have rotted. It snapped at the base and stayed in one piece. Any person looking at this post should surely have been aware that it was out of the ordinary. It was even well looked after and freshly painted! We are trying to get it repaired and put back under insurance.
Princess Victoria Street problems
10-19 June 09: Steel Post replaced by an iron post outside 104 Princess Victoria Street but traditional lantern vanished and replaced by an incongruous light, AND traditional lantern and wall bracket vanished outside 51 Princess Victoria Street with no warning. I sent a letter with a photos of every post in the street since every post has a traditional lantern (which we had paid for) or globe (on listed lamp post). Many residents complained and phoned. It transpired that the wall bracket was cracked, the steel post had had a hole in it so needed replacing, and the lanterns needed attention. All sorted out by 19th June and promises that we will be informed of future work schedules.
Tuesday night at 104 -fully functioning traditional lantern |
Wednesday night at 104- incongruous light on "new" cast iron post |
before Friday at 51 observe the wall bracket and traditional lantern |
bracket removed. There are only 14 wall brackets in BS8 so they are rare. New feeder pillar installed |
Lamp post in the Mall
 broken light |
 what it used to look like |
 new post |
 new light |
More pictures of lamp being erected
The lamp was knocked down by a delivery driver May 2006 and was in four or five pieces so could not be saved. There is a twin lamp in Caledonia Place (repainted same week to match new one!). Its unique appearance is down to the fact that it was one of the first street lights to be powered by electricity rather than gas. The Polish company will be here on Thursday for the ceremony.
- The post was put in position on Monday 9th June 2008.
- The lamp was put up on Thursday 12th June at 7.am in the morning as they needed a huge crane to do it (and to let the concrete set round the new post).
Examples of how lamp posts contribute to Good Streetscape
All show the area is cared for.Paving, signs and lights should be sympathetic with the area. The residents of Princess Victoria Street had to pay £50 per household in the mid eighties to have
better looking lights put up- they are nice but a bit dim!
The old lamp standards in the Mall badly need repainting.
Sadly this 1893 lamp post was backed into by a lorry in May 2006 and has been smashed. A replica has now been made -June 2008
Look at the base of the lamps.
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Broken lamp base being measured for repair. |
Experimental gas light at the end of Royal York Crescent
Caledonia Place has original lights. |
Lamps with flowers |
Light in the window above the door
Why put a lamp post in the middle of a crossing? making it hard to cross if you have a buggy or wheel chair
Useful websites:
- Streetscape in a conservation area. Excellent article from the Building Conservation Directory 1996.
- Redland and Cotham Amenities Society
- Bristol Civic Society
- Network of Residents' Association
-
Bristol City Council Use A-z index to find
roads and pavements, fly posting, prominent satellite dishes
Call 0117 922 3838 about:
- Manhole covers
- Pavements
- Roads
- Kerbs
- Street nameplates
- Bollards
- Overhanging trees and shrubs
- Obstructions
- Spillages