Webb Patent Sewer Ventilating Gas Lamp

One of the last remnants of the ingenuity of the Victorian era, around 100 years old, this was designed to burn off methane from the sewers. As well as masking unpleasant smells for guests at the Savoy Hotel, it also gave light to keep ‘ladies of the night’ away from this dark corner. This however, is in fact a replica, after the original was damaged in an accident with a vehicle.

The horizontal bar on the left of this lamp post, was where the lamplighter's rested whilst he lit the lamp - the ladder was then attached to his bike and off to the next lamp (these 'gas' lamps today are ignited by a computer controlled electric spark).

Coordinates: 51°30'34.98"N 0°07'14.63"W

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