Monkseaton, Pykerley Road/Front Street, Sewer Gas Lamp

HER Number:
1603

District:
N Tyneside

Site Name:
Monkseaton, Pykerley Road/Front Street, Sewer Gas Lamp

Place:
Monkseaton

Map Sheet:
NZ37SW

Class:
Gardens Parks and Urban Spaces

Site Type: Broad:
Street Lamp

Site Type: Specific:
Gas Lamp

General Period:
Modern

Specific Period:
C20

Form of Evidence:
Structure

Description:
Joseph Webb, a Birmingham man, invented a sewer lamp in the 1890s, primarily to destroy sewer smells and germs. Contrary to popular belief, however, these lamps do not burn sewer gas, but ordinary town gas. The updraught created by the flame's heat conducts the sewer gases up through the hollow column and over the three or four lighted mantles, where they are purified before being released into the atmosphere. 10 lamps survive in Whitley Bay and Monkseaton, most or all probably dating to between 1900 and 1910. The legend "The Webb Lamp Co. Ltd." is on the door plate of each example. LISTED GRADE 2

Easting:
3423

Northing:
7193

Grid Reference:
NZ34237193

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 1603 >> P. Syder, 1973, Shedding light on a Victorian light shedder, Gas World, 22/29 December, 1973 T. Henderson, 1993, Lighting up for the way we were, The Journal, 15 December, 1993 I. Ayris, 1992, Sewer Gas Lamps in Whitley Bay and Monkseaton Dept. of National Heritage, List of Buildings of Special ... Interest, 4/177