The following photos were taken in Summer 2005 in the area near Reading, Berkshire:
Although it seems mercury lamps are out of favour in most areas, I found one village which seems to be actively preserving it. There are a number of MBF Thorn Beta 79s along the road, but also this unique lantern: A Thorn Beta 5 fitted with an 80w Mercury lamp! Something I've never heard of previously.
Further down a Mercury Simplex Diadem.
And finally a Phosco P235 lantern with MBF lamp.
Another unusual creation in the area- this time Whitchurch-on-Thames. This is an Urbis Sintra lantern- fitted with a 35w SOX lamp! The first time I have ever seen a modern style of lantern running a SOX lamp.
And the final unusual creation is this Thorn Beta 5 running a 70w SON-T lamp. A whole scheme has been done in Wallingford using these lanterns- so presumably it must be a Thorn option.
A bridge in Reading carries a number of columns supporting these top entry lanterns. I believe the lamps are SON-E but I am not certain. The glassware is by Holophane, but the lanterns are unknown. By 2006, the lanterns had been refurbished. It appears that new lanterns have been fitted. These have Elliptical lamps with inner glass refractor rings and clear glass teardrop globes.
And on the underside of a Reading bridge we have these Philips SDP252 SOX lanterns suspended. The lamps are 90w it seems. They have seen far better days!
A large GEC ZD10841 post top lantern on a junction in the city.
A bang up to date installation- an Urbis Sapphire 1 lantern fitted with a 70w SON-T lamp.
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İDavy Warren 2009