194E. Dock Road South, Bromborough, Birkenhead, Merseyside With thanks to Dwight for informing me of these Survivors. Installed in front of the Bebington Ambulance Station and Bromborough Community Fire Station are three 1950s' 15 ft (5 m) 'Estate Minor' concrete columns made by Concrete Utilities, with two of these still retaining their swan neck brackets and British Thomson-Houston (BTH) Rural Enclosed lanterns - the third having lost its bracket prior to 2009. One of the remaining brackets is also in very poor condition, and would need removal in the forthcoming years on the grounds of safety. The lamp type run by the lanterns is unknown, but may be straightforward tungsten filament (GLS) types.
The example that is in the best condition of the three is pictured first.
The originally transparent Perspex bowls have become translucent white with age.
The undersides of the bowls remain relatively clear, however, and allow the lamps to be glimpsed inside.
The second installation was in far poorer condition, as mentioned above.
Much of the concrete has fallen away from the internal bracket pipe. The pipe itself is very rusted.
With the concrete having gone, the pipe connection to allow the lantern to screw into place becomes visible.
A section of fallen concrete lay on the ground below. A gentleman mowing the lawn while I was taking these photographs quipped that as the installation was Scouse, it would be tough enough to survive!
As the third swan neck did not survive, clearly, it had originated from somewhere other than Merseyside!
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