STREET FURNITURE
In an issue of 2006 Richard Buchanan and
Susan Bullevant described how they and other members of GIHS/Woolwich
Antiquarians rescued an old Borough of Woolwich Electricity Junction box.
Richard later wrote expanding on the subject.
Are these features still there - comments?? please??
The junction box with the Woolwich Arms is presumably the earliest type
they used (and the only one of this type I have seen in recent years). I have
seen three other types of electricity distribution box in the Borough of
Woolwich; two made by Siemens, and one by Henleys. These are somewhat bigger -
it is never easy to dress the cabling in the confines of a junction box - and
are fitted with a door that is hinged at the very edge of the box for maximum
accessibility. Woolwich boxes have double sided access, being designed to be
put near the edge of the pavement, with a door or removable panel facing the
road; and a door facing the pavement. (Modern BT and CATV distribution boxes
are single sided and usually set at the inner side of the pavement, backing
onto the adjacent property). Overall Height of the distribution boxes described
below is above an integral plinth at ground level; below ground they extend about another foot. A rounded height is
given, as there is variability in how the box is set in the ground,
particularly where the ground is not level. I list below boxes I have seen at
the end of 2006. There are probably more.
Woolwich Junction Box
with the Woolwich Arms on Shooters Hill: removed from Eaglesfield Road opposite
the end of Cleanthus Road. It has a door on either side, hinged on the right
with a key operated lock on the left. Overall dimensions: Height: 52 in, Width:
19.5 n, Depth: 14 in. Weight: assuming an average thickness of 1 cm, this
junction box works out at 250 kg (1/4 tonne). It is unusual in having a round
cap fitted over the centre of the top, suggesting that it was designed to mount
a lamp (or alarm?) standard.
Siemens Junction Box I
Shooters Hill, Laing Estate (built 1935-6).
I have counted the following on the
Laing Estate: Ashridge Crescent: 4, Bushmoor Crescent: Kinlet Road: 2
Plumstead: one in Timbercroft Lane at the junction with The Slade. Overall
dimensions: Height: 56 in. Width: 24 in Depth: 15.5 in.
These boxes have a door
hinged at the right hand edge of the side facing the pavement, with pintles
held in the base and top; on the left is a key operated lock. Below the door,
on the base is cast “SIEMENS”. The roadside face has a removable panel held by
six screws. On each side there is a 4 inch square plaque stating: REGISTERED No
750202/29. PATENT No 336752
Siemens Junction Box II
- Shooters Hill, Wimpey Estate, one in Condover Crescent. “Siemens” is not
visible, the base being sunk in the pavement, but the box has the same plaque
on its sides. It is wider than Box I, with full width doors of the same type,
on both sides: Overall dimensions: Height: 56 in Width: 30 in Depth: 15.5 in
Henley Junction Box -
Plumstead, one in each of Pegwell Street and Lucknow Street by Timbercroft
Lane. Overall dimensions: Height: 60 in, Width: 20 in, Depth: 16 in. These
boxes have a door on the side facing the pavement, hinged, for maximum
accessibility, on the left hand edge. The door has two key holes on the right,
at top and bottom. The roadside face has a removable panel held on eight studs
by nuts. On the base, below the panel, is cast “HENLEY”.
Woolwich Junction Box
with the Woolwich Arms. Further to the one taken from Shooters Hill to the
Greenwich Heritage Centre, I have now seen three more. Plumstead: one, at the
junction of Burrage Place and Burrage Road; two, diagonally opposite, at the
junction of Frederick Place and Bloomfield Road. They have a door on either
side, hinged on the right with a key operated lock on the left. The door on the
side facing the road is not the full width of the cabinet, while the one on the
pavement side is the full width of the cabinet. Both doors bear the Arms of the
Borough of Woolwich. These boxes are of a regular pattern, and do not have a
cap fitted on top as the one taken from Shooters Hill did.
We have had a number of other details
sent in about historic street furniture around the Borough
From a Greenwich Transportation Engineer about an old traffic light pad
in Farmdale Road. This dates from when Farmdale was at the end of Westcombe Hill
before the construction of the motorway. Recent road works by the Water Board
may be in the process of destroying it.
From Mike Neill: The lamp column and base at White Hart Lane Depot have
recently been removed – within the last few months - presumably as part of
Tilfen's site clearance. It used to stand in the space between the gate pier
and the weighbridge office. The weighbridge still survives however, as does an
ornate thing that I think was a sign holder - not a light as the old column was
right behind it.
There is a Council Tramways cover just beside the bus stop o/s
Dreadnaught House on the Woolwich Road
The last surviving wood block paving that I know of in the Borough -
maybe from the works featured in the GIHS? - curiously enough in Powis Street,
Woolwich.
There is also an old tram telephone box near the Blackwall Tunnel
entrance in Blackwall Lane – almost alongside ‘Ranburn’.
(this was cleared during Olympic tidying up)
In Vanburgh Hill outside the nurses homes, now converted to flats, is a
metal plate marked ‘Merryweather & Co.’ – was this part of some sort of
integrated fire extinguisher system within the building?
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