One of Brighton and Hove’s new seafront lanterns is on display at the Jubilee Library this month ahead of being returned to its original home.
Five pairs of lanterns are being replaced as part of a pilot project which will be used to work out how best to repair the other 78 pairs which have been removed from the prom.
The pilot is the result of four years of negotiation with Heritage England over the best way to achieve the “complicated” restoration.
The pilot phase also includes restoring the columns, if possible. Two lamps from Madeira Drive, two from Marine Parade and one from King’s Road have been chosen, with the columns removed last month.
They have been taken to the same foundry where parts of the Madeira Terrace have been taken for repairs and testing – the Cast Iron Welding Services in Coalville in the East Midlands.
The new lanterns are being made by CU Phosco, using the same mould used for the 1980s lanterns they are replacing – themselves replicas of the original 1893 lamps.
Councillor Birgit Miller, cabinet member for heritage, said: “This is a great chance for people to see the skill and expertise that goes into producing these bespoke lanterns up close. It was great to see it for myself.
“This is an exciting project which will help improve the look and feel of our fabulous seafront, while preserving its long heritage.
“The lighting is such an iconic feature of our seafront and deserves to be looking its best. I’d encourage everyone to come down and have a look at these amazing lanterns.”
The lantern will be on display until Sunday, 26 October just inside the main entrance of the Jubilee Library, Brighton.
The project to restore the seafront lighting has been delayed by lengthy negotiations with Historic England.
The council gave itself permission to replace the 83 lanterns in 2023. The work was then due to start that autumn – but further negotiations with Heritage England has delayed it another two years.
The whole project is set to cost £4 million.
At last. Are they all coming back? What happened to the ones which were found for private sale on Facebook Marketplace after being taken down? There are still at least two cut-down lamp standards along the seafront too which need the top halves re-created. I am betting some lamps will need to be recreations too, rather than restorations, but the original plans still exist.
Wonder if the Palace Pier Theatre will return? Been a few decades now.
‘Four years of negotiation with Heritage England over the best way to achieve the “complicated” restoration of a lamp?’ Really? Am I missing something here, but that sounds ridiculous and likely to be hugely expensive.
How hard can it be? – Notre Dame was repaired in the same time frame – just saying …