Two Dragon And Onion Lamp Posts To West Of Church Of St Mary

There are two 'Dragon and Onion' lamp posts located to the west of the Church of St Mary in Cheltenham. These lamp posts were first lit on 6th February 1897 and are likely designed by the Borough Engineer, Joseph Hall, and cast by Messrs McDowall, Stevens and Company Ltd, based in London and Glasgow. Made of cast iron, each lamp post features a bollard with half-bollards displaying a shield and the town's motto 'Salubritas and Eruditio'. They have an arched lamp-holder, dragon infill, and are topped with an onion finial. Designed for electricity, these lamp posts are notable for their elaborate design. They originally cost £9.15s.0d. The design motif is derived from the borough's coat of arms, which was granted to the town 11 years after its incorporation in 1876. The lamp posts were moved to their current location, likely from the High Street, and they form a group with three other 'Dragon and Onion' lamp posts to the south of the Church of St Mary. Additional examples can be found in Cambray Place and Trafalgar Street.