Portchester, Hampshire
20th July 2008

Much of the lighting will soon be replaced as part of the Hampshire PFI, but many relics still exist. Residential lighting in Portchester was converted from time switch controlled tungstun to photocell MI50 35w sox in the early 1980s, so none of the original lanterns fitted to the vintage columns remain.

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Thorn Alpha 5 (135w sox) dating from late 1960s on 10m Stewarts & Lloyd column. These were the main fit on the widened A27 between Fareham and Portchester. Few now remain having been replaced by MA50s and now ZX3s. This example pictured July 2008. Replaced August 2009 with a ZX3, flat glass version 150W SON.
Thorn Alpha 5 (135w sox) dating from late 1960s on 10m Stewarts & Lloyd column. These were the main fit on the widened A27 between Fareham and Portchester. Few now remain having been replaced by MA50s and now ZX3s. This example pictured July 2008. Replaced August 2009 with a ZX3, flat glass version 150W SON.
 Urbis ZXU1 (70w son) looking very out of place on vintage column complete with redundant time switch compartment. Swan neck is a later replacement and not original
Urbis ZXU1 (70w son) looking very out of place on vintage column complete with redundant time switch compartment. Swan neck is a later replacement and not original
 The sole surviving fluted concrete column in Portchester with a Philips MI50 (35w sox). This column type numbered a few hundred in Portchester but they have almost all gone, non are left in Portsmouth and but a handful survive in Fareham. Note SELC photocell, this is a replacement for the original thermal cell
The sole surviving fluted concrete column in Portchester with a Philips MI50 (35w sox). This column type numbered a few hundred in Portchester but they have almost all gone, non are left in Portsmouth and but a handful survive in Fareham. Note SELC photocell, this is a replacement for the original thermal cell
 Philips MI50 (35w sox) on vintage column. Column replaced early 2009 with 5m column and post top mounted Urbix ZXU1.
Philips MI50 (35w sox) on vintage column. Column replaced early 2009 with 5m column and post top mounted Urbix ZXU1.
Relite Diadem (80w MBF) dating from mid 1970s, again very few now left having been replaced by MI26s and laterly ZX1s
Relite Diadem (80w MBF) dating from mid 1970s, again very few now left having been replaced by MI26s and laterly ZX1s
 Revo Solumbra (80w MBF) and a little worse for wear following a pellet gun attack
Revo Solumbra (80w MBF) and a little worse for wear following a pellet gun attack
 Relite Diadem on Red Barn Housing Estate
Relite Diadem on Red Barn Housing Estate
 The Portchester
The Portchester "standard fit", 15ft Stewarts & Lloyd column dating from the 1950s. Originally fitted with a timeswitch controlled GEC 5580 running tungstun but converted in the early 1980s to a Philips MI50 (35w sox). Original photocell was a 100 lux thermal unit, now replaced with SELC electronic cell.
Philips MI50 (35w sox) on vintage (pre 1950) column but with a replacement later swan neck
Philips MI50 (35w sox) on vintage (pre 1950) column but with a replacement later swan neck
 10m Stewarts & Lloyd columns, Philips MA50s (135w sox), left gear in base, right gear in head. Twin Thorn Alpha 5s and Urbis ZX3, the later on newer columns in the background
10m Stewarts & Lloyd columns, Philips MA50s (135w sox), left gear in base, right gear in head. Twin Thorn Alpha 5s and Urbis ZX3, the later on newer columns in the background
 A 1960s classic! Thorn Alpha 5 (135w sox) on a 10m Stewarts & Lloyd column
A 1960s classic! Thorn Alpha 5 (135w sox) on a 10m Stewarts & Lloyd column
 This footpath has recently had lighting installed using heavy duty Malletite fold down columns.The diameter of the column base is unusually large for this height of column, even allowing for the fold down mechanism. Strangely small stub side brackets have been used to mount the lanterns instead of post top mounting given the narrowness of the footpath. The lanterns are Urbis ZXU1 running 70w SON. The columns are unusually painted in navy blue, some of which are located in the adjacent school playing field, again due to the narrowness of the footpath.
This footpath has recently had lighting installed using heavy duty Malletite fold down columns.The diameter of the column base is unusually large for this height of column, even allowing for the fold down mechanism. Strangely small stub side brackets have been used to mount the lanterns instead of post top mounting given the narrowness of the footpath. The lanterns are Urbis ZXU1 running 70w SON. The columns are unusually painted in navy blue, some of which are located in the adjacent school playing field, again due to the narrowness of the footpath.
Close up of column base.
Close up of column base.
 GEC5590 lantern running domestic compact fluorescent lamp. Lantern is privately owned.
GEC5590 lantern running domestic compact fluorescent lamp. Lantern is privately owned.
 Late 1960s Stewarts & Lloyd 30ft column with Relite Hyperion 135, 135W SOX. Pictured March 2009, replaced August 2009 with a flat glass ZX3, 150W SON.
Late 1960s Stewarts & Lloyd 30ft column with Relite Hyperion 135, 135W SOX. Pictured March 2009, replaced August 2009 with a flat glass ZX3, 150W SON.
 Closer view, stangely the rest of the A27 through Portchester with these columns were mainly originally fitted with Thorn Alpha 5s, including the adjacent roundabout
Closer view, stangely the rest of the A27 through Portchester with these columns were mainly originally fitted with Thorn Alpha 5s, including the adjacent roundabout
Another example Relite Hyperion 135.
Another example Relite Hyperion 135.
 Looking east towards Portchester, Cornaway Lane on right of picture circa 1950. 25 ft Stewarts & Lloyd columns with Eleco HW509 running 140w SO. Note building on left. Also note column next to 2nd telephone pole on right of picture and 3rd column on left of picture.
Looking east towards Portchester, Cornaway Lane on right of picture circa 1950. 25 ft Stewarts & Lloyd columns with Eleco HW509 running 140w SO. Note building on left. Also note column next to 2nd telephone pole on right of picture and 3rd column on left of picture.
 Around 60 years later, same view, note building on left. Junction now a roundabout. 1970s 30ft Stewarts & Lloyd columns still with original lanterns, GEC9554s on traffic island but casual MA50 on column in left verge. Replacement column far left with Urbis ZX3. Note column and telephone pole in distance above road sign on traffic island. This column is the exact same as that by the 2nd telephone pole in the previous picture.
Around 60 years later, same view, note building on left. Junction now a roundabout. 1970s 30ft Stewarts & Lloyd columns still with original lanterns, GEC9554s on traffic island but casual MA50 on column in left verge. Replacement column far left with Urbis ZX3. Note column and telephone pole in distance above road sign on traffic island. This column is the exact same as that by the 2nd telephone pole in the previous picture.
 Nearest columns left and right are the same columns next to the 2nd telephone pole and 3rd column on left from the black and white photograph. Amazingly they still retain their original lanterns, Eleco HW509s almost 60 years on. Various other casual replacements of columns and lanterns - mostly with GEC 9454 and MA90s have taken place. 2 more additional columns do however retain their original Eleco HW509s.
Nearest columns left and right are the same columns next to the 2nd telephone pole and 3rd column on left from the black and white photograph. Amazingly they still retain their original lanterns, Eleco HW509s almost 60 years on. Various other casual replacements of columns and lanterns - mostly with GEC 9454 and MA90s have taken place. 2 more additional columns do however retain their original Eleco HW509s.
3rd Column on left from black and white photograph.
3rd Column on left from black and white photograph.
 Out of shot from the original photograph, this column is one of those which still retains its original Eleco HW509 lantern after 60 years.
Out of shot from the original photograph, this column is one of those which still retains its original Eleco HW509 lantern after 60 years.
 Another surviving Eleco HW509. This lantern appears to be gear in head.
Another surviving Eleco HW509. This lantern appears to be gear in head.
 Mid 1970s column with GEC 9532, 35W SOX.
Mid 1970s column with GEC 9532, 35W SOX.
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