Stanton Close, Darley Dale, Derbyshire Dales With thanks to Gaz for informing me of this Survivor. Installed as the only street light on this very short cul-de-sac is a 15 ft (5 m) tubular steel column supporting a GEC Z9530 lantern, for 35 Watt SOX (low pressure sodium) lamps. Remarkably, not only was this lantern still extant in June 2026; it had been repaired using a new (old stock) SOX lamp a short time before these pictures were taken, ensuring that the familiar and nostalgic low pressure sodium glow would continue to shine on this roadway for a few more years.

The installation is typical of the type of columns that used to exist throughout Matlock Bath, Matlock itself and Darley Dale prior to LED replacements in the late 2010s. I believe that this example may only have survived the cull as the cul-de-sac's ownership is not by the Local Authority, but by the housing provider for the surrounding flats. The column would be a legacy from when the road did fall under LA ownership (or at least, was planned to do so when constructed).

A feature of these columns is that the bracket section is welded to the column shaft, rather than being bolted to the column's spigot.

Similar to my 1971 Z9532, this version of the Z9530 features a Perspex bowl that sits in a dedicated aluminium frame. Later in the same decade, GEC changed to polycarbonate as its default bowl material, with the new bowls now attaching to the lantern canopies directly without the need of the support frame. The detector for a Zodion SS55 two-part photocell is visible on the Z9530's canopy.

A red-capped Philips SOX-PSG served as the replacement lamp.

Aside from the newer two-part photocell relay, the column base is in as-original condition - when the lantern was re-lamped, the base was given a liberal sweeping to clear it of cobwebs and other accumulated dirt - very meticulous of the operative tasked with carrying out the repair! Interestingly, the Philips L4045BX leak transformer states that it is intended for running 40 - 60 Watt SOX lamps - the forerunners of the 35 - 55 Watt lamps. The re-rated wattages appeared in the late 1960s; however, the ballast could have been from older stock being used up (or Philips may not have updated their ballast labelling to reflect the 'new' wattages) - the reason that I say this becomes clear when the capacitor is examined closely...

...this states that it was manufactured during week 27 of 1970 (29th June - 5th July). Just to point out that I am typing this on the 28th June 2026 - happy 56th birthday, Philips L4015/04 capacitor!

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