Clacton-on-Sea: Listed street lights c 1912, Marine Parade East

Image: © Nigel Cox Taken: 29 Oct 2018

This is a group of five listed street lights on Clacton Cliff and south-east of Marine Parade East. There are four visible in the photograph. The fifth is behind the photographer, and was in the shadow of a tree at the time the photograph was taken, so was left out, but is very similar to the others. The group is Grade II Listed and the Historic England website (abridged) describes them thus:- "Row of 5 street lights, south side of Esplanade between Lancaster Gardens and Connaught Gardens. Installed c.1912 together with group along Marine Parade east and west. Cast iron. The first electric street lights in Clacton. The very tall posts have 2 double bands with central heart motifs, the bases with moulded rings, reeded columns, moulded circles, rings and beadlets, acanthus vase with moulded rings and reeding over. The posts are topped with large ring moulded lidded urns with finials, the urn sides with acanthus mouldings. 2 pendant brackets curve outwards from the urn rims, each with terminal urns with square heads and finials and support the circular lamps. The brackets are supported by inner continuous curved and angled brackets the centres of which are attached to curved and angled panels with acanthus moulding. The lights are attractive giving the appearance of double pendants and are a rare survival in Essex." Alas the pendant brackets with their lamps have all gone, and the black paintwork is in a very poor condition, in places having peeled off with rust patches forming. Some of the larger group mentioned in the centre of Clacton-on-Sea do retain their brackets and lamps, as evidenced by Image The location description "between Lancaster Gardens and Connaught Gardens" is correct, but the co-ordinates and the map location are very inaccurate. The photographer intends to contact Historic England regarding this so it is possible that the description might change in the future. Update 10 November 2018 The co-ordinates on the Historic England website are now correct, and fixed on the middle street light of the five.

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