The first of a set of restored old streetlights has gone back up on Brighton seafront.
Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Repaired, restored and renewed, the first of five heritage streetlighting columns has been installed back on the city’s seafront.
“Complete with new brackets and lanterns, the grade II listed column has been returned to its original location near the Palace Pier.
“Over the next couple of weeks, four more will be reinstalled along the seafront.
“After decades of exposure and decay, the columns were sent to Cast Iron Welding Specialists (CIWS) for repair and recasting.
“They also cast new decorative brackets while lighting experts CU Phosco manufactured new lanterns to light up the skyline.
“Approved by Historic England, all were restored using original designs, manufacturing techniques and, where possible, materials.
“We’ll now be reviewing the pilot before deciding on the project’s next steps.”
Labour councillor Birgit Miller, the council’s cabinet member for culture, heritage and tourism, said: “It’s great to see this iconic lighting back in all its glory.
“The column feels brand new and the brackets and lanterns look absolutely stunning. The craftsmanship and expertise should be applauded.
“This is such an important project for restoring and renewing the heritage of our fabulous seafront.
“The columns, lanterns and brackets are part of the city. Whether silhouetted behind the setting sun or lighting up a darker evening, they’ll remain a feature of our skyline for years to come.
“Along with our new programme of maintenance and improvement, piece by piece we’re restoring our seafront to something our residents and visitors can enjoy and be proud of.”
The restoration and manufacturing process involved sending the columns and brackets to Cast Iron Welding Services.
The process started with a thorough clean and detailed inspection of each column.
Specialists used a unique gas fusion welding and precision machining process to restore the columns were to their original specifications, permanently repairing corrosion and other historic damage.
The decorative brackets underwent full restoration with structural modifications via gas fusion welding to ensure that they were compatible with the new lantern design.
The restored columns were coated with a durable paint suited for the harsh coastal environment while their bases required on-site machining for reinstallation by expert engineers.
The construction of the distinctive lanterns was carried out by CU Phosco, combining heritage sensitivity with modern engineering.
The work was designed to preserve the original architectural character while improving long-term durability, particularly in the challenging seafront environment.
The lanterns underwent extensive testing, including salt spray assessments, to test whether the structures could withstand coastal conditions and reduce future maintenance requirements.
As part of the upgrade, the lanterns have been fitted with energy-efficient LED lighting, carefully specified to replicate the original colour temperature and visual appearance.
The entire project is expected to cost about £4 million over several years, paid for from the council’s Carbon Neutral Fund as well as capital funding and money remaining from a wider project to replace traditional streetlights with LED lights.
