Columns

Most columns in England are made from some type of metal: mainly Galvanised or Stainless steel, cast iron, or aluminium. Concrete, wood and fibreglass columns can also be seen in certain places.

METAL Metal columns are by far the most common type of column in England. They come in a variety of heights and can easily be cut to suit the required appliance. For example, signlights require short columns so that drivers can easily see the sign without having to look up too far. The highest columns, about 60m high, are known as 'High Masts', and are used to light large areas, such as car parks and busy intersections. They tend to have a winch system that allows the gantry (supporting at least four lanterns) to be lowered, so that maintenance can be carried out on the ground. Not too many people are willing to go up to them in a bucket!

On major routes, for example motorways and dual carriages, special columns are used that are designed to fall if they receive a high impact and absorb the energy - to try and protect the vehicle and its contents. Another special column used is the 'drop down' or 'raise and lower' column. These columns are used in places where it would be impossible for a bucket van to get to, or where a hazard, such as low power lines can be a safety issue. By dropping the column down, engineers can carry out maintenance safely and confidently on the ground. Problems arise when the column cannot be dropped due to obstruction, and so then it is a ladder job! Trees can often also cause difficulty, as their branches often get in the way of the column's rotation so brute force is often needed!

Galvanised steel columns are the main type of column that councils use as replacements or when installing new columns, as they are relatively inexpensive, and take a much longer time to corrode than untreated steel columns. Often a short section at the base of the column is painted with a bitumen paint, to further protect the column from traffic splashes or dog urine. Stainless steel columns are not as widely used, as they cost more than galvanised columns, but can maintain a 'new' look for longer.

Cast iron columns are only made to special order nowadays, so the majority of replica cast iron columns are actually steel. Many original columns are around one hundred years old, so maintaining them can be hard work. They need several coats of paint every few years, otherwise rust can set in. Many have preservation orders on them, especially in rural areas, so if one becomes damaged, a similar replacement has to be found. Columns with doors in the base are newer than columns with no door and a control box below the bracket. These columns are ex-gas columns, and as gas lanterns needed no controlling, no door was provided. Electric lanterns need somewhere for the fuse, occasionally control gear and originally a time switch, so an extra section is needed. This can be done by raising the column and placing a door below it, but the above method using a control box is much more conventional.

Some companies that make/made metal columns are Abacus, BEI, Bleeco, Corus, CU Phosco, D.W. Windsor, Eleco, Fabrikat, GEC, Malatite, Petitjean, Revo, Stainton, Tamlite and Urbis.

CONCRETE Concrete columns were available before the Second World War, however their popularity with authorities increased in the years after the war, when metal was in limited supply. Many post-war housing estates had concrete columns installed, as they were considerably cheaper than metal columns, and required no painting, unlike their cast iron equivalents. The heights could not be shortened, and so mounting heights were severely limited to about 8m. Nothing could be higher than this because the weight was too great to lift.

Concrete brackets on small columns were designed for top entry lanterns, although side entry brackets were also eventually made as lantern design changed. Some bizarre looking brackets were also used, allowing either top or side entry. On larger columns, side entry brackets were preferred, but top entries were made for a time.

When new, concrete columns were smooth, with a white-grey colour, but as years of weathering took their toll, the columns began to feel much rougher, and their colour became a dull brown.

Today, many concrete columns still survive in towns, but many are being 'sleeved'. A sleeve is a steel bracket that takes the place of the old concrete one, and can raise the column height. Councils do this because moisture can become trapped in between the join of the bracket and the column, and through time erodes the internal metal pipe that contains the wires, and cracks the outer concrete shell. This is known as 'spalling' and is a great problem, since spalled brackets can break and fall to the ground. Anything below the bracket will be instantly crushed due to the colossal weight. Sleeving virtually eliminates any such worry, and can often lengthen the column's life.

Concrete columns are no longer made - they are considered to be too dangerous, as if a vehicle collides with the column, the passengers could be severely injured, as the columns are too sturdy. Even worse is that the column could fall onto the vehicle and cause instant death.

Some companies that made concrete columns are: Concrete Utilities Phosco (CU Phosco), Eleco, GEC, Revo and Stanton and Staveley.

WOOD Wooden columns are not only for supporting a lantern - they are often also used for telephone or electricity cables as well. The lantern is often supported on a wall bracket, although standard brackets can also be used so long as they are properly secured to the column. Since no door can be built into the column, a control box is used, and all the wires have to be secured into the wood.

Little needs to be said about wooden columns really, as there's nothing particularly special about them.

FIBREGLASS I know very little about Fibreglass columns except that GEC was a company that made them. Such columns have never been very popular due to problems with vandalism, but they are now making a bit of a comeback as they are much safer than traditional steel columns during or after road traffic accidents. Whereas steel and concrete columns could prove potentially fatal if one landed on someone, the fibreglass columns are lighter and more flexible; greatly reducing the risk of a fatality if one collapsed.