How many old-fashioned gas lamps survive in Sheffield?

Aren't they fuuelled by gases from the sewer, or is that a myth?

It really is time someone did a survey of all the remaining ones in the city to help preserve them for future generations.

I know of ones on Brincliffe Edge Road, Sharrow Head roundabout, top of Stewart Road (Ithink) off Sharrowvale Road, and one in Broomhill in the Ashdell Road area.

There used to be one just off West Street, near Devonshire Green, but I'm not sure if it's there any longer.

Where are the others?

There's one on School Road in Crookes, near the small parade of shops half way up.

I'm sure there has been a thread on this (admittedly, very interesting) subject before. Oi! Moderator, can you help?!

Another question could be: Why are Stannington's street lights white, whilst Sheffield's are orange? Is it to do with Stannington being in the Parish of Bradfield as opposed to within the Sheffield city boundaries? (<< A weak guess perhaps.)

I think there are only 2 surving in reasonabe condition.

I don't know if it's still there but there was one on Far Lane at hillsborough at the top of Lennox or Dorothy road.
I am sure I've seen a couple of them up at heeley green, maybe near the north end of Kent road.

I'll bet there's 40+ of them still around, of course they have all been converted to electric light.

This has already been covered in a previous thread, but i can't find it right at this moment...

there is an old gas lamp opposite the chemist on Alderson Road (off London Road)

Yes, you are right in saying that there's one just off West Street, on the corner of what was Broomhall Street (now a pedestrian area) and Eldon Street by the new tesco.

I know it's still there, because my office window overlooks it! :D

As I mentioned in the previous thread about these lamps, the gas lamp marks where my father's house was, when he was a child.

There was a cafe, (something like the first Chinese restaurant in Sheffield, The Rickshaw cafe, IIRC) and my grandparents had the flat, directly above it.

PT

Plain Talker, how far back are we going re your grandparents? I like the idea of a restaurant/cafe called The Rickshaw. Does any one else recall it, or was it like in that programme last night, circa 1900?!!

Quite funny that you mention your grandparents overlooking the gas lamp because so too did mine. They lived on Glebe Road, off School Road, Crookes - again - bang opposite another gas lamp.

They might have burnt off sewer gases but I find them quite romantic (okay, call the men in white coats). I remember standing underneath one and listening to it. It made a slight hissing sound. (Now I'm beginning to think I might need to be taken away.)

my grandparents married in 1938, ousetunes, and my father "arrived" the year after, in 1939.

my grandparents moved to the other side of what is now the dual carriageway, onto the Fawcett Street/ Summer Street area, into the old back-to-back houses, before being slum-cleared from Fawcett Street, onto Gleadless Valley, in approx 1957.

my grandfather as boen in 1913 or 1914 (thre were lways arguments because he could not remember which yearhe was born, my grandmother was born in 1917. (that one we know for definite, lol)

Grandpa passed away in 1995, grandma passed on in 2001.

PT

Originally posted by dishwasher


Aren't they fuelled by gases from the sewer, or is that a myth?



No, they weren't / aren't fuelled by the gas in the sewer - there isn't enough energy in the sewer gas. The original Sheffield sewers were badly laid out and detailed and there was a danger of disease from the fetid stagnant gases which were poorly vented off. The gas lamps, fed by the town gas supply, were installed at high points in the system and were connected directly to the sewer - and were usually left on all the time. This gave a 'chimney effect' which drew air through the old sewers to draw out the stagnant sewer gases.