173AAA. Off Worcester Road, Malvern Link, Worcestershire With thanks to Dwight for informing me of these Survivors. Installed on a short flight of stairs leading to Malvern Link Railway Station is a 15 ft (5 m) concrete column made by Tarslag, believed to be part of their 'Broadcrete 500' range, and supporting a disused unknown top-entry lantern (possibly, a very early Atlas Beta 4 - two further examples are to be found at Worcester's Shrub Hill station.) on a cranked bracket. I assume that the column was installed for the benefit of those using the staircase after nightfall, but may have fallen into disuse owing to the location providing challenging for maintenance. By 1953, production of the Broadcrete columns transferred to Concrete Utilities, but did not remain in production for long, owing to CU's own product range taking preference, as is understandable. Thus, a very rough estimate can be made as to this installation's age. This website shows the same types of columns and brackets used along the station platforms, and fitted with reflector lanterns, whilst this website shows a 1985 image of these brackets now supporting Revo Prefects.

Apart from a relatively-recent looking small section of damage to the column shaft, the installation is in fine condition, for saying that it must have been abandoned for many years.

The bracket design still seems quite modern now, so when new, it must have looked positively futuristic.

The lantern has a distinctive flared canopy, and a rather heavy-duty looking hinge to support the bowl retention ring.

The prismatic glass bowl has been lost over time, allowing the internal baffle reflector to be seen. Beyond the reflector, a two-pin bayonet lampholder remains connected.

The installation, as pictured from the top of the stairs.

The other side of the lantern sees a similar-looking release clip fitted.

A gap in the trees allowed the column to be seen from the back, with the former Station House building providing a background.

A slight covering of moss has developed on the bracket, owing to the adjacent trees.

The inspection door was missing, allowing a cast iron Henley cut-out and steel wire armoured supply cable to be seen. I like that the wooden backboard is shaped to match the contours of the door.

Further along Worcester Road, adjacent the Townsend Way roundabout, is the Worcestershire Highways depot, with a public recycling centre alongside. Installed within the latter is a 10 m tubular steel column supporting a GEC Z9555 cut-off lantern, for 135 Watt SOX (low pressure sodium) lamps.

This appeared to be the only Z9555 within the compound; the other columns were all topped with floodlights. Thus, this lantern has probably fallen into disuse too.

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