A Survey of Colchester’s cast iron lamp posts.
August 2018
The Colchester foundries that produced the standard cast iron lamp posts for the Council using the same wooden former were : Bennell & Co ,Catchpool & Co, F W Brackett & Co, A G Mumford, Truslove & Co , Stanford & Co and C E Schlimper
Bennell & Co operated from Greenstead Road from 1870 – 1899.
Truslove & Co operated from St Peters Street from 1921 – 1958 and took over the lamp post casting from A G Mumfords. They were the last Colchester foundry making lamp posts.
A G Mumford operated the Culver Street foundry from 1872 and contiued their casting activity until they closed in 1933. They were primarily an engineering company,world famous for their donkey engines . They are the 2nd most numerous of lamp posts.
The High Street foundry was operated by Thomas Catchpool from 1848, and then by his son ,another Thomas ,who went into partnership with Henry Thompson. After 1872 the foundry traded as Catchpool, Stannard & Stanford. As the standard Colchester pattern only appeared in 1874 it is possible some Stanford only named are still from this partnership.
F.W. Brackett took over the Bennell foundry in 1899 in Greenstead Road and developed a successful engineering business as well as a general casting activity.They specialise still today in water filtration and are known as “ Ovivo”.
Stanford & Co operated the High Street foundry from 1899 – 1920. For at least twelve of those years they supplied the Borough with castings which explains why they are the most numerous lamp posts survivors.
The Abbeygate foundry was originally built in 1834 by Richard Coleman on the rear of the Scheregate Hotel site. One of the early foundry buildings survives in the car park. C E Schlimper operated from the site for only two years around 1902. There are very few remaining lamp posts left bearing his name
Other Makers
Where I have listed no name ,these are the standard pattern but due to paint build up for example ,it is not possible to read the name.
There are lamp Posts that have been made by the Stokes of Mansfield foundry which are a very indentifiable model. There are also a large number with no name at all which are thinner than the standard and have a top piece that reminds me of a lily bulb. Hence : “thin lily” as an identifier.
Stokes of Mansfield pattern. Some with arms.
Lamp Post with traditional glazed top at The Cottage, St John’s Road
Lamp Post in Beverley Road towards Lexden Road
Name casting in base often hidden.
Ornate Swan neck on Stanford Post at Kendal’s Almshouse
Lamp Post in Church Lane with a LED Light unit
These are the total cast iron lampposts for each Foundry in 1983 and 2018.
Additional cast iron lampposts
