The Alpha 3s were at least 27 years old when removed; photographs taken in 1984 clearly show them installed by then.

The columns pre-date the Alpha 3s by around twenty years - when new, twin-lamp Atlas Alpha 8 lanterns were employed.

Most of the Alpha 8s had disappeared along here by 1974; being replaced with single-lamp Simplex Jupiter lanterns; presumably in response to the energy crises that befell Britain in the early 1970s.

The very faint sign painted on the wall behind this lantern was an advertisement for Thurman and Malin; a very brief history of this organisation can be read on the Saint Peter's Churchyard page.

Another view of this lantern; notice the spigot reducer that would have been fitted to this bracket when the Jupiter was exchanged for the Alpha 3.

Some of the new columns were positioned away from their outgoing equivalents. In many cases, the new columns are positioned away from adjacent buildings.

This close-up reveals that the two bowl clips had had a length of wire threaded through them in order to keep them secured to the canopy during normal operation.

This column had been neatly tucked into a convenient corner between two buildings.

Although intended for elliptical lamps, many of these Alpha 3s ended their days fitted with tubular lamps.

Another legacy of the original Atlas Alpha 8 installation could still be seen in 2011 - the double doors in each of the column bases would have been necessary for accommodating the control gear for both lamps.

The familiar blue colour of a Royce Thompson SC1000 photocell can just be seen fitted to this lantern's gear shoe.

A Philips SGS 204 400 Watt SON-T lantern had been fitted to the next column in (I would guess) the late 1990s; in 1996, an Alpha 3 was still fitted.

The 400 Watt version of the SGS 204 was only available with a flat glass cover; the reason being that the heat from the lamp would damage a plastic bowl. Although the Alpha 3 had a plastic bowl and could operate a 400 Watt lamp, its all-aluminium construction probably acted as a heat sink; helping to disperse the heat - the Philips lantern featured a GRP canopy, which is far more insulating.

I just can't think of what the shop to the right of the column would be selling!

The early morning sun highlighted this lantern's refractor panels.

The new columns are 10 m in height (as are the outgoing columns) - it is only the perspective that makes them appear shorter.

Another Philips lantern had been fitted to one of the columns, though as it was a 'medium' (SGS 253) Iridium, it is likely to be newer than the SGS 204 was. Again, an Alpha 3 existed here in 1996, although this was gone by August 2008. An Abacus AM480 post-top lantern can be seen on the right of the picture; adjacent the seating area.

It appears that the spigot reducer was removed when the Iridium was fitted - a light grey paint finish can be seen on the short section of visible spigot.

Lanterns had been fitted to the new columns by Sunday, 12th June 2011.

The 'medium' (SGS 253) version of the Iridium was used.

The lanterns are likely to each run a 140 Watt CPO-TW lamp; the reduction from 400 Watt will save a few pennies on the 'leccy bill!

The lanterns are fitted with Royce Thompson SC1000 photocells, which activate when ambient light levels fall below 35 Lux, and deactivate when ambient light levels then rise above 18 Lux.

The positioning of the old and new columns gives the impression of a battle preparation...sadly, I don't think the Alpha 3s will win.

This photograph demonstrates the different profiles of the Iridiums in comparison to the older disc lanterns.