14. Alvaston. Another known by Jeremy. We visited here on day 4 of my work experience, but due to the camera's battery going, I had to wait until Tuesday, 3rd June to get a photograph. The lantern is an old Wardle 'Murray'. Derby had many of these tiny lanterns at one time in the past. The refractor ring is cracked and sadly contains at least one bullet/catapult hole, but I don't think this damage is recent as the lantern has been forgotten about - modern steel columns are now in place along the road but there are no other concretes. A broken GLS lamp cap has remained in the lantern for years and so it is clear that no plans were ever made to get the lantern going again - therefore Jeremy is planning to see if he can get it going when he has an hour or so free. The only problem may be that the service could no longer be live, but he doesn't see why it would have been disconnected if the column is still there. Unfortunately, a caravan sales company bought the land directly behind the column some years ago and erected a perimeter fence around the site - however, they included the column as part of the site, so actually getting the door off will be a job!

Jeremy did manage to get the lantern working again - the supply was still live. (23rd July 2003)

Sadly, the beginning of 2009 saw the 'Dielikon' refractor suffer irreparable damage. Curiously, the lamp remained intact.

A small section of the refractor was found at the base of the column - I took it away with me for safe-keeping:

The incomplete remains reveal the construction of the refractor - there are actually two concentric rings with refractor grooves moulded into them, with the top of the inner ring being cemented to the top of the outer ring.. The outer ring itself features vertical grooves on the inside of the curve; the inner ring features horizontal grooves on the outside of the curve. The 'accessible' side to each ring is smooth, allowing for easy cleaning.

Google Street View image of this location:

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