Ventilating Column

The Ventilating Column, built in 1897, is one of a pair designed by George Jennings, inspired by an Egyptian pattern from Macfarlane's Castings and based on a design by Alexander 'Greek' Thomson.

This column is made of cast iron and features a tall square plinth with a flared fluted base, decorated with flat Greek key and other geometric patterns. The shaft tapers slightly and is adorned with bold fluting, culminating in stylised, pointed lotus flowers at both the base and the top. The capital is deeply moulded and perforated, showcasing ornamentation of Egyptian aquatic plants.

Above, the superstructure originally held a gas lamp and consists of an elaborate tripod with a fluted shaft. The base is decorated with lotus and other leaves, some of which are folded back, some overlapping, and some unfurling to create the arms of the tripod. The scrolls or unfurling leaves are a shorter variant of the design found on the western column located on New Cross Road, which is also listed as Grade II.