Loughborough time machine
Lampy recently returned to the town of his origin, Loughborough (or Loogaborooga to our evolution-denying American friends). Here are some long-lived Loughborough lampies.
1920s loughborough uk lamp post: an ornate beauty
MadLamp writes…
Lampy received a most excellent email from his photographer pal, MadLamp, whom he asked to snap some old lamp posts in Poole.
“More photos coming your way soon – taken today with my mobbie… thanks to You I now, for the first time in my life, look and observe lamp posts around me, entirely new universe springing into my conscious awareness. It is amazing how many different types of lamp posts one can find on just one street – it is almost difficult to find 2 which are the same – they are the same types maybe, but some have long arm, some short, some no arm at all, different angles, closeness to the street, it gives an impression that lamp posts are not really “human made” – there is too much “organised chaos” going on in Lampy Universe – they appear like flowers, or better, trees, each taking its own individual shape depending on location, exposure to wind etc….”
Lampy is pleased with MadLamp’s lamp post philosophy. Lamp posts are addictive – finding old ones is like spotting rare birds (Lampy imagines) – it’s a rush.
Some Rickmansworth Lamp posts
The Rickmansworth lamp-posts below are not so pretty, but they date back to the 1970s.
These lamp posts featured on a journey Lampy took from Rectory Road to the M25 Junction 17.
Snowy lampposts
Snowy scene of Rectory Road. These lamp-posts are round shoulder lamp-posts.
Snowy lamp-posts
sunny lamppost
Hurrah, the sun is out.
Rectory Road
The centre lampost has a white-top sodium lantern. The one to the right has an older-style skinny sodium lantern. In the 80′s and 90′s the former replaced many of the latter.
Straight arm lamp-post
Once again, the foreground lampost has a white-top sodium lantern. The next one further down is a skinny sodium.
Twin straight arm lamp-post with rectangle sodium lanterns
Straight arm lamp-post with rectangle sodium lantern
Lampy is most fond of these rectangle sodium lanterns. They are designed to keep the egg-yolk yellow sodium light directed downwards. Lampy has always thought they look charming and characterful, but cannot quite figure out why. Rectangle sodiums are amongst his very favourite lamp-post lanterns. They’re becoming very rare however, and are an endangered lamp post species.
Dual straight arm rectangle lantern closer view
Here the Rectangle Sodium Lanterns can be seen in a little more detail.
Straight arm rectangle lantern lampost Rickmansworth m25 Junction 17
Lampy loves this lamp-post!
Notice the ugly pole with spy cameras over the M25 roundabout in the back-ground. Lampy does not like the ubiquitous cameras that litter the once-great Britain. The surveillance state is not to Lampy’s liking one bit! Read 1984 by George Orwell to see why. Our freedom from state spying is an important right!
Another melancholic note: the ageing sodium lanterns of these lights will inevitably be replaced before long. As will the posts themselves, which look sadly neglected. These lamp-posts are not as ornate as the older models, but they are themselves disappearing. They are endangered!
If you have lamp-posts in your area that are not so modern please photograph them before they get scrapped by the dastardly lamp-post demolition squads. And send them to Lampy!
Brighton lamp posts
Lampy would like to draw your attention to some beautiful lamp-posts of Brighton. Here is an old and charming lamp post from Brighton taken in 2008.
Old brighton lamp post
The cast iron beauty above is an example of what Lampy calls a fossil lamp-post, ancient lamp-posts that are relics of a (more wonderful) past. Lampy’s enthusiasm for this treasure is shared with a pidgeon that is perched on the lamp-post arm. Obviously our feathered friend is a fellow Lamp Fan.
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Brighton silver hippie
This shot could be of higher quality, it was snapped casually. The foreground lamp, top right, attached to the wall, has a nice lantern to which Lampy gives the soubrequet “silver hippie”. Lampy fondly remembers silver hippy lanterns back in the 1970′s. Lampy suggests they are rather feminine, perhaps some therapy is overdue. Also circled (centre) is an arc shaped lamp post.
Brighton promenade streetlights old and new
The above shot is a view of the promenade in Brighton. The beauty of the ancient cast iron lamp posts on the left is breath taking.
Contrast the ancient charm with the modern lamp-posts on the right. Don’t they look hideous in comparison? Actually Lampy thinks they look hideous full-stop. We educate millions of art students and yet we produce rubbish like this! It took days for Lampy to put his finger on what the lamp posts reminded him of – Star Wars Battle Droids!
Note the upper row of beautiful ancient lampposts at the top left, and the poignant sight of a stump of a destroyed lamp-post by the left-hand girl.
Goose neck mercury nuts
Lampy is very fond of these fine “goose neck” lamposts. They are what Lampy calls fossil dwarfs – fossil because they are ancient, and dwarf because they are smaller, side street lampposts. The lanterns are what Lampy would name as “nut” lanterns, which usually house a white mercury light.
More glorious lamp posts from Brighton shall feature in this blog, but be patient, Lamp Fans, for specimens from other towns shall feature before then: beautiful, ugly and always curious.
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Welcome to Lampy’s Lamp-post blog!
Lampy warmly invites you to send in your lamp post pictures!
Cheers Lamp Fans,
- Lampy.