Ye olde Victorian lampposts

Brighton & Hove Council has recently launched its project to restore five Grade II listed lampposts of different styles and condition. Although the initial pilot project is small, just five columns, the £4m scheme should see 80 restored in time - returning ‘our seafront lighting to its former glory’. The most prominent examples are the 66 identical lampposts installed along the seafront in 1893, stretching both east and west from the Palace Pier. These cast iron structures feature elaborate decorations, including foliage, acanthus, and ribbed mouldings. The wide, basket-shaped capitals support twin lamps suspended from ornate brackets. While originally gas-powered, they were later converted to electricity. 

The new project  - with the participation of Historic England - focuses on careful refurbishment and, where necessary, replication of damaged or missing parts, ensuring the 80 lampposts maintain their historical accuracy. The meticulous process, the Council says, involves expert metalwork and craftsmanship to preserve the original character of the iconic structures. The restoration aims to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the seafront and historic areas while ensuring the lampposts continue to provide effective and energy-efficient lighting.

The project is expected to take several years to complete and will cost in the region of £4m. Some of the funds are being covered by the council’s Carbon Neutral Fund, but the council is also taking advantage of capital funding and money remaining from a project to install LED lights in the city’s street lighting.

The council has provided more detail on the work. Each column, it says, has been individually logged so that, once restoration is complete, they’ll be placed back in their original location. A company called Cast Iron Welding Services will transport the columns to its foundry restoration facility, There, it will remove many layers of lead-based paint, disassemble/inspect the columns, repair any fractures and apply a new exterior coating/paint to protect the columns. New energy efficient LED lamps will be made for each column by CU Phosco.

Tom Foxall, Regional Director at Historic England, said: ‘The historic lampposts along the seafront, with their decorative twin pendant lantern lights, are an iconic feature of the promenade and a reminder of Brighton & Hove’s heyday as a Victorian seaside resort. However, many are in poor condition due to corrosion from the sea air. We have worked in partnership with a specialist metal conservator and Brighton & Hove City Council to identify the best way to restore the lamps, preserving as much of the original materials as possible. I’m delighted that the pilot project to restore five columns of different styles and condition is now underway, which will inform how the rest of the columns will be restored. It’s vital that we protect and appreciate our seaside heritage.’

Meanwhile, a description and list of the city’s old lampposts can be found on its Heritage Assets web pages. There are, apparently, over 5,000 cast iron street lights in the city, with most of them (not the elaborate seafront columns) falling into one of nine types - as in the council’s photo montage below.