Concrete Lamp Posts

[DavidB]

Only have attachments, but found these Stanton columns yesterday on an old disused road around Hams Hall. No idea of vintage but must be 60s or 70s. There is actually a row of 4 of them.

Nice find! I can remember seeing columns erected in the 60s labelled as 'Stanton & Staveley'. I've just checked this page and the two firms merged in 1960 so I wonder if these posts actually date from the 50s?

[orudge]

There are a bunch of concrete lights in parts of Aberdeen, especially the post-war estates in places like Northfield.

[Sulzer:1999]

There are a bunch of concrete lights in parts of Aberdeen, especially the post-war estates in places like Northfield.

Until the 1990's, Banchory High Street had some very fine large concrete lamp posts with curved stalks which had a small rear overhang. Tried to find a period picture on the net, but nothing has come up.
I do recall seeing a picture of former President Eisenhower's motorcade traversing the High Street in 1962, clearly showing these lamp posts. Ike was on his way to Balmoral to see the Queen.

Murray Duncan.

[Bryn666]

Only have attachments, but found these Stanton columns yesterday on an old disused road around Hams Hall. No idea of vintage but must be 60s or 70s. There is actually a row of 4 of them.

Nice find! I can remember seeing columns erected in the 60s labelled as 'Stanton & Staveley'. I've just checked this page and the two firms merged in 1960 so I wonder if these posts actually date from the 50s?

The huge base of the column suggests so; these were the early Stanton 6Bs which originated in the 1940s.

[Focus 2]

This example of the more modern variety taken in Chippenham, Wiltshire in 1979 was replaced with the rest of them in 1980. They were similar ones on Durham Road, Sedgefield in County Durham which were replaced by metal column sodium types as early as 1975.

The second photo was taken in Stockbridge, Edinburgh only a couple of years ago. This looks older than the installations I saw being replaced in the '70s and '80s.

Looks to be in remarkably good condition. Don't know if they've since been replaced.

[Bryn666]

This example of the more modern variety taken in Chippenham, Wiltshire in 1979 was replaced with the rest of them in 1980. They were similar ones on Durham Road, Sedgefield in County Durham which were replaced by metal column sodium types as early as 1975.

The second photo was taken in Stockbridge, Edinburgh only a couple of years ago. This looks older than the installations I saw being replaced in the '70s and '80s.

Looks to be in remarkably good condition. Don't know if they've since been replaced.

Never mind the lampposts in the first photo, dig those signs! Incidentally, in that first photo it is actually a Concrete Utilities column, not a Stanton.

[Focus 2]

Never mind the lampposts in the first photo, dig those signs! Incidentally, in that first photo it is actually a Concrete Utilities column, not a Stanton.

Cheers Bryn. Must admit I'm not altogether familiar with the makes and types of lampposts so thanks for your input.

The first photo was taken at the top end of Bristol Road in Chippenham.

Similar Concrete Utilities posts were still standing in Norham Road North Shields until around 15 years ago. Many were in a poor state with the overheads drooping as if about to fall off. One or two had actually lost their "arms" but not sure if they collapsed on their own accord or removed for safety reasons.

Some had much application of PVC tape as a sort of last ditch attempt at repair. The PFI replacement programme scrapped the lot.

Despite many controversies such as the horror of black poles being fitted at the coast rather than types more suited to such areas this was one instance where replacement lighting was justified.

[Bryn666]

Sheffield used to be notorious for concrete columns held together with tape as well. You know failure is imminent when that's being done.

[Truvelo]

The one outside my old house was covered in tape as well. I managed to film it when the original bracket was replaced with a sleeve.

Although it's been 20-something years since concrete columns were last installed over here when I stayed at a friend's house near Seattle last week I noticed their 2006 built street has concrete columns.

[deadendwaterfall]

I was rather disappointed that North Lincolnshire Council were mainly retaining the existing concrete columns when they started the LED lighting rollout last September, and this concrete column on Grange Lane South was no exception up until this week where they have put a new metal column further back from the road side and the recently installed LED light on the concrete column will be transferred to the metal column.

[Dadge]

I dare say this programme has been mentioned somewhere else on the forum, but it's relevant here! https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0624f8p

[Norfolktolancashire]

Found this beauty on a roundabout in Southport town centre, looks like it could be from the 1950's?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.65227 ... 312!8i6656

[Glenn A]

Concrete is still quite common in Whitehaven. Most of the lighting on the B5295 and B5345 is still concrete, the columns dating back to the late fifties, but these have seen three changes of lantern and some have metal sleeves.

[Bryn666]

Found this beauty on a roundabout in Southport town centre, looks like it could be from the 1950's?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.65227 ... 312!8i6656

Roughly so yes. I suspect the lantern has been maintained since then and may not be original.

[Glenn A]

Whitehaven concrete, these lamp post date to 1966 when this estate was built and the original lanterns were replaced in the eighties with the current ones. Also very few LEDs, which suggests this is a low priority in this part of town
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Ull ... d-3.556682

[Mikeya]

There was one in Darwen until a few months ago.

You'd need to search through old catalogues to know the provenance of old columns though.

I've a few catalogues such as these
https://www.flickr.com/photos/36844288@ ... 2854104320
https://www.flickr.com/photos/36844288@ ... 6567190154
https://www.flickr.com/photos/36844288@ ... 2863752531

[Mikeya]

This example of the more modern variety taken in Chippenham, Wiltshire in 1979 was replaced with the rest of them in 1980. They were similar ones on Durham Road, Sedgefield in County Durham which were replaced by metal column sodium types as early as 1975.

The second photo was taken in Stockbridge, Edinburgh only a couple of years ago. This looks older than the installations I saw being replaced in the '70s and '80s.

Looks to be in remarkably good condition. Don't know if they've since been replaced.

the Stockbridge one in Edinburgh was still there recently. It is very typical of many an installation in Edinburgh.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/36844288@ ... ist-Z8YWDG

There is also this gem in the city.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/36844288@ ... Vwh-dEVR7T
Not many double arm brackets around.

[Mikeya]

Here's some remarkable concrete survivors near Rickmansworth on Chorleywood Close. That first one has what might be an original lantern; here's another that has had a new (orange sodium) lantern fitted since Google took their pictures.

I am guessing they're so large because they are on the original line of the main road, which was improved to one side. The one across the end of the cul-de-sac may have been moved from its original position when the road was cut off - I can't imagine these were specified brand new for a minor residential cul-de-sac otherwise.

There are two more on a little oxbow lake of bypassed road called Old Chorleywood Road a bit further up.

They are rare beasties these days; Revo Scopus columns that suffered due to the stress on the joint between the column and bracket.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/36844288@ ... 863752531/

[Mikeya]

And whilst I think of it! I found this gem in Liverpool last week.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/36844288@ ... ateposted/

[Gareth]

That's a Liverpool No. 2 column, made specifically for the corporation by CU. There are still a few of these (and their Nos. 1 & 3 counterparts) spread throughout the city but sadly they're now all for the chop and are being replaced on mass; one area at a time.

The reason for the cull is the mass LED conversion scheme that is currently ongoing in the city. On the bland hockey sticks erected in the last 25 years or so, they're simply replacing the SOX lantern with an LED one. On the slightly older CU post metal columns of the 80s, plus the CU Byway X and Highfield Manor columns of the 50s/60s/70s, they're taking off the lantern and post-top bracket and putting a sleeve on the column with an LED lantern at side entry. The sleeve isn't compatible with the older classic concrete columns, nor the even older cast iron ones and so these are all condemned, regardless of whether they're still structurally sound or not.

Basically, when a street gets done, any of these older columns are initially left alone and keep their SOX lanterns, whilst the rest of the street is converted. Within a few weeks though, bland replacement hockey stick columns appear alongside them, complete with LED lanterns.

It's all very bland and even quite shoddy in streets which have different vintages of column. It's a shame they can't make the effort of designing a column and lantern that is smart. Doesn't have to be too fancy, just smart. Too much to ask these days. Urban design is a lost art.