Gas Lamp Post Between Numbers 4 And 5

The gas lamp post located between numbers 4 and 5 South Green Road is a Grade II listed street lamp, erected by the Cambridge University and Town Gas Light Company around 1889.

This lamp post is made of cast iron and features a design that is loosely inspired by classical columns. It has a fluted shaft that stands on a circular base, which is set upon an octagonal plinth. The shaft tapers slightly before widening to form a plain banded capital. Atop the shaft is a simple four-sided lantern made of metal and glass, which is supported by four curved metal brackets. A ladder rest extends from the base of the lantern, and the entire structure is topped with a round finial detail.

Gas lighting was first introduced to Cambridge by John Grafton around 1822, initially using oil before transitioning to coal. Grafton's company evolved into the Cambridge Gas-Light Company in 1834, which later became the Cambridge University and Town Gas Light Company in 1867. Gas production at the riverside site ceased in 1969 with the introduction of North Sea gas, but the gas lamp on South Green Road, dating from the late 19th century, continues to be supplied with gas and remains in use today.

The gas lamp post is designated as Grade II due to its architectural and historic interest, being a finely detailed example of a 19th-century gas lamp post, and for its intactness, as it is still lit by gas.