Progress is being made to restore 100 Victorian lamp columns on streets around Leamington Spa to their former glory

During the past three years funds have been pooled by the Warwickshire County Council, the district and town councils and Central Leamington Residents Association (CLARA) to run an annual programme to repaint Victorian columns and adjacent street furniture around Leamington.

The former Mayor, Councillor Robert Cunliffe, and members of the local conservation group CLARA recently inspected progress of the works carried out by Warwickshire Highways. As part of the works, 100 lamps have been painted along with two Listed cast iron sewer ventilation pipes, which have benefited from a thorough removal of old flaking paint and treated with new layers.

Councillor Cuncliffe said: “The pooled funding is really making a difference to streets in Leamington with Victorian columns. The historic features bring a charm to several areas in the town.”

Andrew Savage, Operations Manager of Warwickshire Highways, added: “The lamps are an important architectural feature of some of Leamington’s oldest streets and we recognise the importance of preserving them for future generations. Thanks to the refurbishment programme being carried out by Warwickshire Highways, the lamps and other historical street furniture are being restored to their former glory.”

A total of £5,000 was contributed this year by each of the three local councils. There are over 300 cast iron columns in Leamington and a total of over 55,000 street lighting columns in Warwickshire.

Image: Andrew Savage from Warwickshire Highways, Ruth Bennion (CLARA), Judy Ross (Building Conservation Trust), Paul Edwards (Leamington Society), Heritage Champion Cllr Elizabeth Higgins, Archie Pitts (Leamington Society), painter Luke Humby and Councillor Robert Cunliffe.