Lamps on Norfolk Bridge

[Rayna]

Does any one know what has happened to the lamps on The Norfolk Bridge ?

[Nelson]

Your enquiry Rayna reminded me of  the original 1823 lamps, two at each end of the suspension bridge. Superb cast iron sculptures that, albeit without their glass ball lampshades, actually survived the demolition and replacement by the 1920’s steel bridge but seem to have been ‘lost’ when the latest road bridge was built.
The two existing  lamps at the north end of the bridge are poor replacements compared with the originals and a close up of them before they were removed shows low quality plastic balls with mock metalwork painted on them.
Perhaps the angle of the balls and the insubstantial curled metalwork supporting them seems to suggest that corrosion in the forty or so years since their erection had made them unsafe?

[Rayna]

Thank you for your comments.
 I miss seeing the globes, I thought they were quite distinctive for Shoreham by Sea.
I can’t seem to find out who owned them and if they will return, perhaps more grand as in the originals

[Nelson]

I should have mentioned Rayna that we're also asking around to see if they will be replaced and will post here if we found out anything.
 

[johnjohn]

Paid a visit to Tates 'Paradise Park' last week and noticed that they had the two lights ex Norfolk Bridge there.....should have taken a snap !

[Rayna]

I’m holding my breath as it looks like they are putting the lamps up today Sunday 2nd December 2018.
If they go up I will post a photo 👍

[Nelson]

Any news Rayna?

[johnjohn]

I guess that there was too much rayn yesterday ?

[Rayna]

They have stopped I think it was raining too much, fingers crossed they will return next Sunday.
Then I will post a photo and say hurrah👍

[Rayna]

Yaaa one up one more to go

[Nelson]

Well done Rayna - you could well have a career on SBS as a roving reporter/press photographer!

[swissgardens]

Rayna, good determination. Not certain if your job is 25% done or 50% done i.e. are there meant to be 2 lights on the other end of the bridge? You know me well enough to know I wish you the best of luck in getting all the lights replaced.

[johnjohn]

I am totally confused..... In the photograph there are two supports for the light globes with only one fitted. In Paradise Park,Newhaven there are two seemingly identical cast iron suports, painted green, with both globes fitted and described as being from Norfolk Bridge.
Are they duplicates or did they come from the other end of the bridge I wonder ?

[swissgardens]

I think I can answer johnjohn. On the old bridge there were 2 lights on the Shoreham side (East Side) and 2 on the Lancing side (West Side). If you look at the meridian-airmaps-1980s photos then photo 0-11996-B-1.jpg shows the old bridge. Zoom in and you can see on the West end of the bridge a stone plinth either side of the road with a column on top. I believe these to be the lamps which johnjohn has seen at Paradise Park.

The new Norfolk bridge has no lamps at the West end of the bridge but still retain the old or replicas of the original ones which were at the Shoreham (East  Side) of the old bridge. Which means with the new lamp recently fitted then 50% of Rayna's objective, to get the lamps replaced, has so far been achieved.

[johnjohn]

Thanks for the explanation....it looks as if we should have a word with Mr Tate and ask him to return the other two lamps like the Greeks who want the Elgin Marbles back !