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One of the biggest changes in domestic life ever must have been the moment when the lights came on in the late nineteenth century. Before that, people must have had a cat-like ability to manage in low light levels. For centuries, rushlights were the poor person’s light-source of choice.
Aug 26, 2024 · British made lighting stands out due to its high quality and unique designs. Many pieces are handcrafted and hand-finished, which gives them a special touch that can't be achieved by machines. Plus, buying British helps support local businesses and reduces environmental impact.
May 30, 2011 · The use of electricity for the purpose of lighting truly began with a British engineer named Frederick Hale Holmes, who in 1846 patented an electric arc lamp and with Michael Faraday pioneered the electrical illumination of lighthouses in the 1850s and 60s.
Smart, efficient solar lamps like the Little Sun by artist Olafur Eliasson and engineer Frederick Ottensen, increasingly bring bright light to rural places and those without access to a reliable power supply.
- Candlesticks and Chandeliers
- Oil Lamps
- Early Gas Lighting
- The Conservation Strategy
- Modern Fittings
- Hidden Fittings
- Period Style
- Listed Building Consent
In the 17th century and for much of the 18th our ancestors relied almost entirely on the light of the fireside and either candles or, in the poorest houses, rushlights made from the pith (of rushes) and tallow (a type of animal fat). Candles were used sparingly. Even in the homes of the wealthy, when the family was not entertaining guests, only the...
Simple oil lamps consisting of a wick partly immersed in oil were used in some houses but they smoked badly and smelt even worse than the cheap tallow candles commonly used. However, major improvements were made in the late 18th century when the 'Argand' or 'colza' lamp was introduced. Designed by Aimé Argand in Switzerland and patented in this cou...
When first introduced towards the end of the 18th Century, gas lighting was viewed with suspicion. By 1816, 26 miles of gas mains had been laid in London for factory and street lighting but few houses adopted gas lighting before the second half of the 19th Century. Notable exceptions included Abbotsford, the Scottish country seat of Sir Walter Scot...
Most Georgian and early Victorian buildings in use today will have had new light fittings installed when their electric supply was first introduced, and these in their turn will have been updated many times since then. Where original chandeliers and wall sconces have survived unaltered, there is considerable scope for using them as originally inten...
Alterations may be expressed 'honestly' so that it is immediately obvious which elements of the interior are modern and which are old. Advantages: spot lights, up lights and other modern fittings can be freely used to display the interior in the manner desired; and free-standing fittings can be used to avoid the need to chase in electric wires. Dis...
New fittings may be introduced discretely, for example by hiding them behind existing features such as pelmets. Advantages: the technique minimises the impact of new forms of lighting on the character of the interior. Disadvantages:in many interiors it may not be possible to achieve a satisfactory scheme without making damaging alterations to histo...
The impact of new fittings can be softened by using replica and reproduction fittings such as chandeliers and sconces supporting genuine candles, with free standing electrical light sources providing the main light source. Replicas may also include contemporary fittings which have been converted for electricity and later fittings such as gasoliers,...
In most cases light fittings are unlikely to be considered as 'fixtures' of a building so listed building consent may not be required for their alteration. However exceptions arise where the fittings form part of the architecture of the interior or are in any way built in to the fabric of the building. If there is any doubt it would be advisable to...
Oct 23, 2020 · From bathroom chandeliers to slimline picture lights, here we shine a light on some of the most recent launches and innovations from new and established names in British lighting.
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Jan 5, 2023 · January 5, 2023 Karen Hill. Each epoch in Britain’s rich cultural heritage leaves behind its own distinct style of language, architecture, art and interior design. We will explore how the heritage of lighting has adapted over periods of time, yet a nostalgia for heritage designs remains, is enduring and beautiful.
