In our conservation area of London
Then, one
day, a notice appeared through the door asking for a considerable monetary
contribution to pay for a change from these lights to fake gas lamps
“converted” to electricity.
Considering
that these were in excessively bad taste (“taste” being very subjective) we
declined – but to no avail.
The
pantomime set, “Victorian”, gas lamps are up and running, far taller than would
meet with the approval of a lamp lighter – who would also have too high a cross
piece on which to rest his ladder. They spread a harsh, cold light.
Ornamentation consists of moulded
collars, slipped down the poles to be attached by screws. These are meant to
represent the shapes of Victorian cast iron originals, in use when gas lighting
was invented. I think that a royal personage would approve of the conversion.
Who instigated this rearward-looking move? Perhaps
it was owners of houses in a nearby, late Georgian square who rent out their
abodes to film-makers of period dramas. But even to an artistic director, these
lampposts will still not look quite right. Will
the next monetary request be for plastic half timbering to nail on to our
houses?
Change is inevitable and
necessary. But surely change in buildings and street furniture should represent
the period in which we live. Thank heavens the Georgians did not copy Stuart
architecture, or architects in the early twentieth century the Victorians
(well, some did).
What it has done is to make us
much more aware of real, original, cast iron street furniture, which is viewed
with renewed affection.
