Sugg Grosvenor

The first lanterns of 2024, and they're absolute monsters. In a neighbouring town there's a very old cast iron bridge running over the River Severn. For as long as I remember it was lit with these Sugg Grosvenor's running 100w SON-T, mounted upon replica cast iron columns. As the LED replacements finally caught up to heritage installations, it sadly signalled the end for these well used lanterns, however they haven't totally disappeared as a contact I have asked if I wanted any. He delivered them while I was at work, but when I got back and saw them and their whacking great size, I immediately realised these are not going in my shed.....

I ended up with a pair of these, definitely a brilliant save, but there is literally nowhere I can store them indoors, as they stand about 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Overall, they're in a very grubby condition, both having a bowl of Rice Krispies.... No, I mean wasps inside the bottoms of the lamp area. They are otherwise completely intact and undamaged, even down to the LEAD scrollwork adorning the canopy. Unfortunately, I can't access the gear right now, as the screws holding the canopy shut have all seized, meaning I'm gonna need to drill them out owing to the lead being too close to allow me to heat them properly. Its a shame they're slightly too new to have glass refractor rings, but since these were always the only ones, its more accurate to my childhood.

Incredibly, Sugg still make these lanterns, even more incredibly, they still make them in gas.

Restoration will involve careful reshaping of the lead, painting the lead silver, and careful polishing of the copper to bring out its characteristic shine. Once polished, a clear lacquer will be applied to hopefully prevent it going dull again. They might be too unwieldly for a collection, but they're fully deserving of being in this collection owing to the memories attributed and their beautiful aesthetics.