sotonsteve wrote:

Nevertheless, such a cruel way to treat an ornate listed column.

sotonsteve wrote:

Jonas Nichols Square in the centre of St Marys in Southampton features a very ornate Victorian cast iron column. It was originally a carbon arc installation, and featured a white opalescent globe. It can be seen in its original state on Google Street View here. Obviously, the carbon arc lantern hasn't worked for years, most likely decades. The column was Grade 2 listed on the 8th October 1981.

In around 2013 sacrilege was brought upon this lovely old column. Gone was the original globe from the carbon arc lantern, and in its place came another globe. Or when I say in its place, I mean somehow cobbled to the top of the column at the bottom of the yoke via some form of control box. And when I say globe, I'm talking north Hampshire business park. A clear bowled sphere with black upper hemisphere and metal louvres, of some manufacture. Of course, Southampton has a white light policy and is moving towards 100% of street lighting being white light, so it is running a SON lamp!

Here is an overall view of the installation. As grand as the column may be, the area in which it stands has a reputation for being rough.



And of course, we must see a close up of their handy work!



Could it have been worse? I suppose in place of the sphere they could have fitted some sort of double bracket with large Iridiums. Nevertheless, such a cruel way to treat an ornate listed column.