Sunday 15 March 2015

Sunday Snap – The street lamp

In last week's Sunday Snap I featured Harry Brearley and the stunning street art portrait by Faunagraphic (whom I had the immense pleasure of meeting yesterday). Many of you knew what Harry invented while the rest of you will be kicking yourself when you find out that the answer is

Rustless or stainless steel

Top marks go to Cass, Jen, Phoebe, Leyla and a self-proclaimed smug Ryan.

Onto this week and as you can see it's a street lamp. This isn't any ordinary street lamp though this is a sewer gas destructor lamp! As someone with a fascination for street furniture I was quite giddy to see this one from 1924 listed by English Heritage in January this year. It was designed and made by the Birmingham based Webb Lamp Company. Due to the haphazard approach to sewer planning the build up of sewer gases was a real problem which could lead to the possibility of both disease and explosion. The sewer gas usually collected at high points. The lamps were connected to both the underground sewer and the ordinary gas supply in order to kept them lit. Such was the heat generated that it created an updraught leading the gas to be burnt off and converting the gas to carbon dioxide. This was then released into the atmosphere.

Between 1915 and 1935 a total of 82 of these lamps were installed in Sheffield – the most in any British location owing to the city's many hills. As you can see from the glowing light this lamp is still in use today for the purpose of reducing odours. Now if you are all still awake this week's question is

What sewer gas was converted into carbon dioxide?

We had four lovely photographs linked up to Sunday Snap last week. Emma and her naturally black and white photo of Warwick Castle. Merlinda found a stunning blue sky to pair with her capture of the Wills Memorial Building in Bristol. Over on Instagram Truly Madly Kids shared a shot of the banstand on Clapham Common. Finally, there was a touch of early spring from Leyla and some blossom.

If you want to join in with this week's Sunday Snap then add your link to the linky below. Any theme is allowed. It doesn't have to be published today as you have until 23.55 on Friday 20th March 2015 to join in. Grab my badge below for your blog post. Just make sure it is your photo and you hold the copyright for it.
Sunday Snap

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11 comments:

  1. That is a rather striking Street Lamp, and wow... you really know your stuff don't you?! History and Chemistry all in one post! Looking forward to hearing the answer... coz I don't have a clue!

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  2. OOh great post and I am going to guess Methane x

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  3. Gorgeous street lamp. Why don't we make them so attractive nowadays?

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  4. Wow - why can't all street lamps look like this?

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  5. Love the history bits! It's always so interesting to read about old technics especially something that isn't in use nowdays :) Oh and this gas is it methane?

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  6. We have a lamp out side our house looms like it should be in narmia, cant beat a street lamp

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  7. I love this post and I really want to find this lamp now, it's gorgeous and what great history.

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  8. i wish things like this and red telephone boxes stayed , i also find them historic sculptures intriguing and pretty no matter how old they look x

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  9. So interesting! No idea about the gasses but have you been to the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester? They have a fab sewage underground reconstruction and I'm pretty sure they have a lamp too like this!

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  10. I love a post that teaches me something and you've just reminded me again of the importance of looking at everything around us with curious eyes. Totally impressed by your 'fascination for street furniture'.

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  11. History and chemistry, I was awful at both - I'm going to ask the mister!

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