Re: Mike Barford's ESLA survivor.
This particular lantern would have narrowly avoided detection by my radar, had it not been for a holiday back in August 2017 to Matlock. As I enjoy driving, I opted to go the "scenic route" to my destination via Whaley Bridge and Chapel en le Frith. These two small towns were once on the main route to Buxton, until the A6 re-alignment in the late 80s effectively bypassed them.
I remember travelling through both towns (when I was a youngster), on one of many forays to the tram museum at Crich or the Heights of Abraham.
Alpha 1s and linear Alpha 5s were the mainstay of local lantern provision at the time. It is interesting to note that when I was in my early teens, I didn't really appreciate SLIs (they were everywhere back then) and as both towns were merely passed through without much fuss, it is easy to see why these lanterns would not have registered too much in my mind. How tastes change!
Anyway, as is common these days, I opted to do a bit of GSV reconnaissance, just to see what is around and about. The Alpha 1s and 5s are long gone, therefore to come across this vintage lantern still in situ (and purely by chance), is quite frankly amazing.
Anyway, having found this relic, I decided it was certainly worth a visit. As has been mentioned, it does seem to be in active use and nicely maintained - shame about the cable tie, but never mind. Interestingly, although I assume it is still under the ownership of the council, there doesn't seem to be any ID number fixed to it. Could it be privately owned in that case?
A polite phone call to the Stocks Cafe & Bistro might unearth some answers.
It is reasonable to speculate as to why this particular piece of street furniture has survived at all. lt might be down to "Grandfather rights" inherited from the former rural district council (abolished in 1974) ensuring it is always kept on the books, or the realisation that this street lantern has always been there* and is an important part of the streetscene. There are some listed buildings in "Chapel", therefore it might also be of special interest in that context too.
If this is indeed the case, wouldn't it be nice if neighbouring authorities had similar policies regarding obsolete street furniture.
Anyway, long may it remain, although it might need a kind donor to keep it supplied with SOX lamps (once existing sources have been depleted).
*Looking at vintage photographs from the Francis Frith Collection, it looks like the lamp must have appeared in the late 1930s or thereabouts. Two images in particular show the building, with and without the lamp. Another photo shows the rear of the same building (possibly the early 50s) which shows a similar bracket but with what looks like a GEC "Open sodium" Z9420. Assuming the area was originally lit by Eslas, this must have been a replacement or a new installation.
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_________________ "I can't think what you want to go to London for, you won't find any better lampposts there..." L.S. Lowry. 1887-1976.
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