Examples from Dublin 6

Lampheads from the larger antique standards, 9m

Ornate Lampheads of Streetlights

The locations are Palmerston Park and Belgrave Square.

By kind permission of the Rathmines, Ranelagh and Rathgar Historicial Society

Ornate Lampheads of Streetlights
By kind permission of the Rathmines, Ranelagh and Rathgar Historicial Society

Ornate Lampheads of Streetlights

The locations are Palmerston Park and Belgrave Square.

By kind permission of the Rathmines, Ranelagh and Rathgar Historicial Society

Enlarge image

The lower lamphead in the illustration is an example of the head of a 9m antique standard located at Belgrave Square known as The Scotch Standard ( 1903-1920).

This lamp standard was introduced with the Pigeon House electric lighting scheme of 1903. They are large pillars with straight-stem heads and semicircular overhangs. These replaced the very first electric standard used in Dublin, which was the 9m swan-neck. The change from carbon-arc lanterns to filament bulbs in 1938 made the existing standards perhaps more attractive to look at, as the filaments are smaller. Original lamp standards are still reasonably common. The shamrock motif was designed with Irish use in mind even though many of the pre-1940 standards were forged in Britain.

The upper lamphead in the illustration is The Rathmines Urban District Council Standard, 1900-1920.

This example is located at Palmerston Park.

The lamp standards found at the park originated in the Rathmines area. There is a notable reduction in use of the shamrock motif, which was so popular at this time in the rest of Dublin.

Some Details on Streetlights in Dublin 6

A selection of lampposts in the Rathmines/Rathgar area

The locations are Victoria Rd., Belleville Avenue and Ontario Road. Square. The styles shown are: the sugar stick standard with round base, the square-based shamrock style, and the converted gas to electricity standard. There is also a close up of the 1900 Rathmines Urban District Council inscription.

By kind permission of the Rathmines, Ranelagh and Rathgar Historical Society

A selection of lampposts in the Rathmines/Rathgar area
By kind permission of the Rathmines, Ranelagh and Rathgar Historical Society

A selection of lampposts in the Rathmines/Rathgar area

The locations are Victoria Rd., Belleville Avenue and Ontario Road. Square. The styles shown are: the sugar stick standard with round base, the square-based shamrock style, and the converted gas to electricity standard. There is also a close up of the 1900 Rathmines Urban District Council inscription.

By kind permission of the Rathmines, Ranelagh and Rathgar Historical Society

Enlarge image

(Clockwise from Top Left)

The example of the sugarstick standard on the top left of the montage is located in Victoria Road. This standard first appeared in 1915. It is made of cast iron and up to 1938 used carbon-arc lighting. Although extremely common in Ranelagh, Rathmines and Rathgar, it is quite rare on the north side of the city, suggesting that the Rathmines District Council introduced it. There are also many good examples in Mountpleasant Square and Castlewood Park .

On the top right is an Antique Standard with the wording "Rathmines Urban District Council 1900" on the door. This one is located at Elmpark Avenue, Ranelagh. These are fairly common in the Township area.

On the bottom right is a round-based lampstandard, situated at Ontario Tce. and dating to 1825. This is a rare example of an original gas lamp that has been subsequently modified by means of a control box at the neck to convert it from gas to electricity. This example is possibly the oldest standard still in use for lighting and is still in its original location.

Square-based 4.5m Antique Standard on bottom left-hand side: The base of the standard on Belleville Avenue is decorated with growing shamrocks. There is another example of this (although it is very rusted) on Castlewood Place.