10. High Street, Repton Along with various modern lighting installations, the High Street was also home to three cast iron columns that were refurbished in 2003. As part of the refurbishment, the existing top-entry SOX lanterns were removed, and replaced with D.W. Windsor 'Iffley' lanterns. Two of the three columns would originally have supported gas lanterns, but were then converted to electricity in approximately the 1930s. Sadly, one of these veteran columns was replaced later on in 2003, following a fault with the supply cable within the column. Owing to there being nowhere to terminate the supply cable near ground level, the cable continued up the column and into the (Revo, in this case) control box. Unfortunately, the cable fault was found to be within the column itself, and as the damaged cable could not be removed from the column shaft, the decision was taken for a replacement column to be installed. A 6 m tubular steel column supporting a WRTL Arc lantern was to be the replacement. The removed swan neck and Iffley lantern were later fitted in nearby Willington.

We start with the column that no longer exists:

The 'before' photograph (above) dates from 2003; the 'after' photograph dates from July 2010.

The first surviving cast iron column pictured is opposite Askew Grove:

Looking at the position of the "Diamond Optic" reflector, I think this lantern may be installed the 'wrong' way around!

The second column was a long-door Revo Moseley. This column is likely to be (slightly) younger than the gas columns were.

Since these pictures were taken, the bowl has gone missing from this lantern.

Another cast iron column exists on The Pastures. This lantern looks to be correctly positioned on its swan neck bracket:

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