Abbeyhill, Edinburgh Several notable installations exist around the Abbeyhill area of Scotland's capital - not least, thanks to the number of surviving 'Mackenzie' cast iron lighting columns dating from the late 19th / early 20th century, which were named after the foundry that produced them (Mackenzie Brothers, later Mackenzie & Moncur). The column's distinctive design remains in production to this day, with replica units produced by SUGG Lighting; apparently, still at the original foundry.
Several examples of the 'Mackenzie' column are installed on Waverley Bridge, which links Princes and Market Streets via access to Waverley railway station.
The columns feature a distinctive right-angled top-entry bracket with a thistle-style decorative pattern in the space beneath the outreach. Originally, the brackets supported carbon arc lanterns; these were superseded with various other top-entry lanterns in the subsequent decades - notably, in the late 1950s / early 1960s, low pressure sodium types were specified. Unfortunately, the length of these lanterns saw sections of the decorative ironwork removed, to allow them to fit. This example, now fitted with an LED lantern, is one such casualty. Later conversions saw a spacer installed between the bracket and the lantern, which enabled the latter to be installed without damaging the decoration.
The vehicle access ramps leading to Waverley station are also lit with ornate columns; albeit, to a wholly different design to the Mackenzie product.
The brackets here are the more conventional curved type for carbon arc lanterns.
The current lanterns are Candela 'Campden' products, now fitted with utterly hideous and massively oversized LED 'corn' lamps in place of their original elliptical discharge lamps.
A small fluted cast iron column is installed on George IV Bridge, near its junction with Candlemaker Row, and alongside the famous 'Greyfriars Bobby' drinking fountain (and pub).
A modern, but heritage-style, SUGG post-top lantern, is installed. This runs some sort of warm white LED light source in the modern era.
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