BY the mid-19th century, gas street lights became a feature of towns and villages in England. The illumination reduced crime and enabled factories to remain in production after dark.
Gas lamps feature in photographs of old Swanage. A famous one is in the Lower High Street in the early 1900s which illuminated a ‘drive slowly’ sign.
Electric lights emitting an orange glow have replaced the gas lights.
Gas-style lights remained at Swanage police station, Swanage Town Hall and at Russell Avenue.
The Conservation Review suggested that the street lights on the High Street and Church Hill should be replaced with gas-style lights that were more in keeping with the area.
When I asked the council to do this their reply was that they were only going to erect gas-style lights where they existed before Last week I was delighted to see that the council has replaced the lights at Blucher’s Lane and Church Hill with gas-style lamps.
I hope the council will do the same in the High Street.
The lights give the oldest part of the town a Victorian appearance.
ROBIN BRASHER, High Street, Swanage
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