Off Creswell Old Road, Totmonslow, Draycott-in-the-Moors, Staffordshire Moorlands With thanks to AgentHalogen_87 for informing me of these Survivors. Several Survivor-worthy installations exist within the grounds, or at least, in the immediate vicinity of, the present-day Blythe Park Business Park; the site belonging to Blythe Colour Works in the past, according to archival photographs and this informative website. One of the lighting installations comprises a GEC Z5640-series post-top lantern attached to the corner of a small single-storey building. I had expected that a second example may once have existed on the opposite side of the access road, on an identical gatepost, and in all likelihood, this was probably the case, going on the available detail in the photograph link. Further into the site, several Thorn Alpha 3s, of which at least two are attached to Thorn QC10 10 m sheet aluminium columns, along with one wall-mounted example, are to be seen. Photographs on the website detailing the site's history indicate that these columns were in place by the late 1970s. Outside of the site, an abandoned reflector fitting on a basic tubular steel column can be seen on the railway side of the level crossing that passes over Cresswell Old Road; this is likely to date to a time prior to the closure of the railway station at this location, which closed in 1966, but may have continued to be used until the level crossing became automated.
The diminutive Z5640 is easily overlooked, thanks to its rather set back position.
As can be seen, the Perspex bowl has become dislodged but appears undamaged. The friendly security officer who spoke to me while I took these pictures thought that a tree falling in the vicinity a few years earlier could have been the culprit.
Although the Perspex has become translucent through age, the sun shining through it has cast shadows of the internal components on the opposite side of the plastic.
One of the two QC10 columns is just beyond the low building, with another example being opposite, on the other side of the main courtyard area.
The side-entry brackets employ minimal outreaches.
Positioned above the entrance to a rather imposing building is the wall-mounted example.
Whereas the lamp control gear for the column-mounted examples is installed remotely, on this example, the gear is installed within the lantern itself - presumably, this is due to there being nowhere suitable for remote gear to be installed.
The other column is seen behind a newer column supporting three sphere lanterns.
Judging by the amount of dirt that is visible within the bowls on both this and the above example, the Alpha 3s are probably no longer operational after nightfall.
The style of the base area of the column that supports the reflector lantern appears to be an Abacus type, and probably didn't see many years' use before the station closed. On the opposite side of the rails, a signal box that controlled the level crossing remained until this was automated in 1989, after which, it closed, and was demolished. This 1983 image shows both the signal box and this installation (as well as a GEC Z9538) - the light was probably provided to assist the crossing keeper after nightfall, as a second, identical fitting that looks to have been attached to the signal box itself, is visible.
The shaped piece of conduit that links the column to this fitting is heavily rusted, though the reflector itself appears to be free from corrosion externally.
The grey enamel paint applied to the exterior of the fitting is in good condition, and would clean up successfully.
No lamp survives within the fitting any longer.
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