The Links, Sewer Gas Lamp
The Links, Sewer Gas Lamp
HER Number
1604
District
N Tyneside
Site Name
The Links, Sewer Gas Lamp
Place
Whitley Bay
Map Sheet
NZ37SE
Class
Gardens Parks and Urban Spaces
Site Type: Broad
Street Furniture
Site Type: Specific
Gas Lamp
General Period
20TH CENTURY
Specific Period
Early 20th Century 1901 to 1932
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
435350
Northing
572780
Grid Reference
NZ435350572780
Sources
<< HER 1604 >> 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, 5/178; Brian Singer, Northumbria University, September 2015, Investigation of paints from objects on Whitley Bay waterfront for Kier North Tyneside
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, 5/178; Brian Singer, Northumbria University, September 2015, Investigation of paints from objects on Whitley Bay waterfront for Kier North Tyneside