134AL. The Leas / Chalkwell Esplanade, Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Essex With thanks to Dwight for informing me of these Survivors. Installed along both of these roads that overlook the sea front are a number of historical 25 ft (8 m) cast iron columns with ornate brackets that would have supported carbon arc lanterns originally, although over time, the light source has altered as lighting technologies have evolved. By the 1950s, GEC 'Viatron' Z8432 fittings were installed; these lasted until some point between April 2019 and November 2020, when all were replaced with bespoke lanterns that replicate the overall appearance of the Viatron, but probably run an LED light source. By comparison, when new, each of the Viatrons would have run a 250 - 400 W MA/V (medium pressure mercury vapour) lamp, complete with internal magnetic arc deflector for allowing these lamps to be operated horizontally, and may have run the later high pressure mercury (MBF) lamp type after MA/V lamps became obsolete, but whatever the case, they ended their days running tubular high pressure sodium (SON-T) lamps instead.
Three of the installations are to be found on The Leas.
Notice how the brackets were adapted slightly crudely in the past to accommodate side-entry lanterns, when the original lanterns would have been top-entry.
Although the new lanterns capture the spirit of the Viatrons, this close-up reveals that they have some noticeable differences, including translucent panels instead of transparent refractor glass. For saying that the lanterns were no more than five years old at the time of photographing, the nuts used in securing the bolts that form the lower hinges are rusting already.
The underside panel on these is flat, whereas it was curved on the Viatron.
No fakery exists with the columns, however, which include sturdy base sections complete with hinged inspection doors.
The columns feature ladder bars as part of their overall casting, although in the modern era, these will serve no purpose other than decoration; modern access platforms now being considered a safer alternative to ladders.
A radio node connected to Essex's street lighting Central Monitoring System is positioned at the front of the lantern. Formerly, the same position on the Viatrons was used to support Royce Thompson P42 two-part photocell detectors - a conversion from the original time switch control.
Another view of the top-to-side-entry bracket conversion - what appears to have happened is that much of the top-entry pipe was cut away, and a new section welded into place, creating a rather angular joint between old and new.
This is one of several columns to be found on Chalkwell Esplanade. Where the old columns along this section have had to be replaced, a modern tubular steel replacement has been used, rather than trying to create a faux-heritage appearance.
On the Viatron, the GEC logo was cast into the space above the two front 'windows' of the lantern.
A simple wing nut construction secures the lower panel in normal circumstances.
Two further installations are captured at the far end of the Esplanade.
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