150 - Bridge Street, Langley Mill

150. Bridge Street, Langley Mill Located at the end of this street is an installation that looks somewhat out of place - installed within the carriageway is what appears to be a pole used formerly in the supporting of overhead trolleybus conductors. Two separate top-entry Thorn Beta 5 35 Watt SOX lanterns are attached to the pole, with one installed near the top and facing in the direction of the footpath; the other, about half way down and facing the carriageway. The reason for this curious arrangement is that the upper lantern previously illuminated a flight of steps that brought the footpath up to the height of the adjoining railway footbridge, allowing pedestrian access between two industrial buildings. Following the demolition of these buildings and the construction of a supermarket on part of the site, the footpath's height at this point was reduced to ground level, making this lantern somewhat surplus to requirements. Indeed, the column was proposed to be replaced as part of the supermarket works, and so it is very much living on borrowed time, particularly as it is in increasingly poor structural condition.

The service cable enters from beneath the ground, and then passes through a steel conduit system attached to the pole before entering the large control box just below the lower lantern.

Visible above the base is a small corrosion hole; further evidence that this installation is sadly in need of imminent replacement.

Another hole is visible near the top of the shaft; however, this appears to have been made artificially and possibly was used to accommodate the bracket that supported the overhead conductors.

The lantern brackets attach to the pole using tension chains. The brackets are made by ESLA, and are catalogued as the '1510' variety. The miniature cast iron fuse boxes beneath each bracket both carry the inscription "ESLA Harrison Type"; named after the company's founder, Haydn Harrison.

The tension chain attachment for the lower bracket appears to have failed (or be failing), as cable ties have had to be introduced, in order to prevent the bracket from lurching forwards under the cantilever action of the lantern. The original cover for the main fuse box (which presumably, once housed a time switch for operating both lanterns) has had to be replaced with a temporary door intended for a curved lighting column.

Unsurprisingly, by 2022, this installation had been removed.