Umair Gaines
The electrification of London's streetlamps was a gradual process that began in the late 19th century. Prior to the introduction of electric streetlights, London's streets were illuminated by gas lamps, which were first demonstrated in Pall Mall, London, in 1807. While gas lighting provided a significant improvement over earlier oil lamps and candles, it had its drawbacks, including dirt and the risk of explosion. The world's first electric streetlights were installed in Mosley Street, Newcastle, in 1879, following the development of electric lights by Joseph Swan in Britain and Thomas Edison in the US. In 1878, the same year that Cragside House in Northumberland became the first house in the world to be lit by electric light, London's Thames Embankment and Holborn Viaduct were lit by electric arc lamps, marking the beginning of the transition to electric street lighting in the city. By 1880, Electric Avenue in Brixton had become the first street in London to be lit by electricity as we know it today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First electric streetlights in London | Installed in 1878 near Holborn Viaduct and the Thames Embankment |
| First street in London lit with electricity | Electric Avenue in Brixton, in 1880 |
| First public street lighting | Gas-powered, demonstrated in Pall Mall, London on January 28, 1807 |
| First gas-fuelled street lamps | Westminster Bridge, lit on December 31, 1813 |
| Number of functioning gas-fuelled street lamps in London today | Around 1,300 |
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What You'll Learn
London's first electric streetlights were installed in 1878
The development of electric lighting in the 1870s was driven by pioneers such as Frederick Hale Holmes, who patented an electric arc lamp in 1846, and Joseph Swan, who installed his lights at Cragside House in Northumberland in 1878. The electric streetlights in London were an adaptation of the "`Yablochkov candles`" that had been used to light the streets of Paris in the 1870s. These electric candles caused a sensation at the Paris Exposition of 1878, triggering a steep sell-off of gas utility stocks as the potential of electric lighting was recognised.
The electric streetlights in London quickly gained popularity, leading to the replacement of most gas streetlights. By 1881, more than 4,000 electric streetlights were in use in London. However, arc lighting had some disadvantages, including the emission of intense and harsh light that was discomforting on ordinary city streets. This led to the development of improved versions of the arc lamp, such as the differential arc lamp invented by Friedrich von Hefner-Alteneck of Siemens & Halske.
Despite the widespread adoption of electric streetlights, gas lighting continued to be used in London. Today, there are still around 1,300 functioning gas-fuelled street lamps in London, maintained by the British Gas team of London Lamplighters. The oldest gas lamps in London can be found on Birdcage Walk with King George IV's insignia.
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Electric streetlights were first tested in Paris in 1878
The evolution of public lighting has come a long way, from the simple torches and oil lamps of ancient times to the sophisticated electric streetlights of today. Electric streetlights were first tested in Paris in 1878, marking a significant milestone in the history of public lighting. Known as arc lamps or "Yablochkov candles", these early electric streetlights caused a sensation at the Paris Exposition of 1878. This momentous event triggered a steep sell-off of gas utility stocks as people began to recognize the potential of electric lighting.
Paris has a long history of innovation in street lighting, dating back to the 17th century when the city started lining its streets with iron-framed glass box candles. Over time, these were replaced by oil lamps and wall lights, which provided better illumination. The introduction of electric streetlights in Paris was a natural progression as electricity became more widely available in the mid-19th century. The bright and glaring arc lamps were mounted on very high poles, casting a harsh light and creating deep shadows.
The success of the first electric streetlights in Paris inspired their adoption in other cities. In 1878, the same year as the Paris Exposition, London introduced electric street lighting along the Thames Embankment and near Holborn Viaduct. This marked the beginning of the transition from gas lighting to electric lighting in London. By the early 20th century, electric lighting had become the standard for public lighting in most urban areas across Europe.
The development of electric streetlights can be attributed to pioneers like Frederick Hale Holmes, a British engineer who patented an electric arc lamp in 1846. Holmes, along with Michael Faraday, played a crucial role in electrifying lighthouses in the 1850s and 1860s. While arc lighting was found to be too complicated and expensive for domestic use, it was highly effective for street lighting. The "Yablochkov candles" in Paris and the early electric streetlights in London were a testament to the potential of electric lighting, which offered brighter and more reliable illumination compared to gas lighting.
Today, electric streetlights are commonplace, and cities are exploring new technologies to enhance their lighting infrastructure. The widespread adoption of LED lighting has led to energy-efficient streetlights that can be controlled remotely based on traffic patterns and other factors. Smart city technologies are also being integrated into lampposts, with sensors, cameras, and data analytics improving public safety and providing additional services beyond illumination. The evolution of public lighting continues to be driven by technological advancements, changing social norms, and the need for improved safety and reduced energy consumption.
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Gas streetlights were dangerous and dirty
The first public street lighting in London was demonstrated with gas in 1807, and by the early 1800s, London had installed gas lamps along its streets. While gaslights were a significant improvement over candles and oil lamps, they presented several dangers and drawbacks.
Gas lighting was first introduced in the early 19th century, and it quickly spread throughout Britain. By the mid-19th century, gas street lighting was widely available, and it wasn't until the late 1930s that gas lamps began to be replaced by electric lights in London. However, the transition to electric lighting was gradual, and even today, there are still some functioning gas-fuelled street lamps in London.
Gas streetlights were dangerous because they produced harmful by-products such as carbon monoxide, a lethal gas. The combustion of coal gas also produced carbon dioxide, water vapour, heat, and light. The lack of regulation in the industry led to issues like leaking pipes, low pressure, suffocations, fires, and explosions. Gas lighting required manual lighting and extinguishing each day, and the lamps produced a dimmer light compared to later electric alternatives.
The dangers and drawbacks of gas streetlights became more apparent as the technology for electric lighting advanced. Electric lights provided cleaner, safer, brighter, and more efficient lighting. The development of electrical plants and the commercialisation of electric lighting by inventors like Thomas Edison made electricity more accessible and practical for public use.
The transition from gas to electric streetlights was a gradual process. While electric lighting was introduced in London in 1878 along the Thames Embankment and near Holborn Viaduct, it wasn't until the early 20th century that almost all street lamps were replaced with electric lightbulbs. Today, gas streetlights are mostly preserved for their nostalgic effect, and some cities like Berlin and Düsseldorf have retained a significant number of gas lamps.
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Electric streetlights were first powered by arc lighting
The nights in London during the 18th and 19th centuries were dimly lit, with people relying on the moon or their personal lanterns to find their way. The first public street lighting in London was with gas, demonstrated in Pall Mall on January 28, 1807. While gas street lighting was not widely available until the mid-19th century, electric streetlights made their debut in London in 1878 along the Thames Embankment and near Holborn Viaduct. These early electric streetlights were powered by arc lighting, which refers to the production of a bright light through an electric spark in the air between two conductors.
The concept of carbon-arc lighting, which involves an arc between carbon electrodes in the air, was first demonstrated by Humphry Davy in the early 19th century, with sources citing different years, including 1802, 1805, 1807, and 1809. This technology was the first practical electric light and was widely used for street lighting in the 1870s until it was replaced by incandescent lights in the early 20th century. Arc lighting was favoured for outdoor lighting due to its intense brightness, but it was not suitable for indoor use as it was too vibrant and expensive for domestic purposes.
One variation of arc light used in street lighting was the Jablochkoff "electric candle" arc lamp, also known as the Yablochkov candle, invented by Russian inventor Pavel Yablochkov (or Paul Jablochkof) in the 1870s. These electric candles caused a sensation at the 1878 Paris Exposition, showcasing the potential of electric lighting. The use of arc lighting for streetlights continued into the 20th century, with arc lamps still visible on London's streets in the 1950s before being largely replaced by more efficient incandescent bulbs.
While arc lighting played a pivotal role in the early days of electric street lighting in London, it's important to note that gas lighting also persisted alongside the emerging electric technology. Even today, there are still around 1,300 functioning gas-fuelled street lamps in London, maintained by the British Gas team of London Lamplighters, preserving the traditional craft of lamplighting.
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London's first streetlights were gas-powered
Winsor's demonstration in 1807 was soon followed by the lighting of Chapel Street in Salford, which became the first street in the world to be lit by gas in 1806. In 1812, the world's first gas company, the London and Westminster Gas Light and Coke Company, was established, and less than two years later, Westminster Bridge was lit by gas-fuelled street lamps. By 1823, numerous towns and cities across Britain were illuminated by gas streetlights, and by 1859, gas lighting could be found all over the country.
The development and deployment of gas lighting were accelerated by its low cost, with gaslights being up to 75% cheaper than oil lamps or candles. Gas lanterns varied in type, size, and shape, and many Victorian gas lanterns are still used today, although they have been converted to use electricity. The oldest gas lamps in London can be found on Birdcage Walk, with King George IV's insignia on their bases.
The transition to electric street lighting in London began in 1878 along the Thames Embankment and near Holborn Viaduct. In 1880, Electric Avenue in Brixton became the first street to be lit with electricity as we know it today. The introduction of electric lighting triggered a sell-off of gas utility stocks, as the electric light was finally being taken seriously. Despite this, London's gas streetlamps persisted, with almost half of the street lamps still using gas as late as the 1930s. Today, there are still around 1,300 functioning gas-fuelled street lamps in London, maintained by the British Gas team of London Lamplighters.
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Frequently asked questions
The first electric streetlights in London were installed in 1878 along the Thames Embankment and near Holborn Viaduct.
Before electric streetlights, London's streets were lit with gas-fuelled lamps. Gas lighting was first demonstrated in London in 1807 and became widely available in the mid-19th century.
The early electric streetlights in London were arc lamps, which emitted a very bright and harsh light.
Yes, Paris got its first electric streetlights in 1878, and Newcastle became the first city in the world to have electric streetlights in 1879.
Electricity became common in most homes after World War I.
