hibernianfc
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Does anybody have any information on lighting in 18th century town
house gardens?
Hibernianfc (Dorset, UK)
house gardens?
Hibernianfc (Dorset, UK)
- Thread starter hibernianfc
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plumbers mate
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Lanterns or candles or nothing?
Nemesis
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The moon or torches (of the natural flame variety...)
The Garden History Society is a useful organisation...
http://www.gardenhistorysociety.org/
The Garden History Society is a useful organisation...
http://www.gardenhistorysociety.org/
Penners
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Glowworms?
Arc lamps were occasionally used for formal show gardens, but you wouldnt put one in your garden today, theyre pretty nasty on the eyes.
You might perhaps use a miniature one with a filter.
Arc lamps have dual use of course, you could hook them upto your carbon microphone and moving iron diaphragm speaker, using the arc as an amplifier. I suppose all that came later though.
NT
You might perhaps use a miniature one with a filter.
Arc lamps have dual use of course, you could hook them upto your carbon microphone and moving iron diaphragm speaker, using the arc as an amplifier. I suppose all that came later though.
NT
Penners
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Well, NT, I have to give you full marks on Useless-But-Interesting scale for that little snippit.
hibernianfc
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Thanks for the humorous replies so far...now, does anyone have any serious knowledge or examples of 18th century garden lighting (not 1980s or anything electric or gas (obviously))?
hibernianfc
hibernianfc
hibernianfc
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Moo said:
Thanks, Moo for your post.
I agree with you. But how was the lantern set up and were they 'oil' fuelled or just candles? I have several wrought iron fixtures down my garden wall which I think are 18th century but I cannot work out how any lamp was attached. Hence I am trying to find somebody who actually knows of examples from this period.
All the best.
hibernianfc
Nemesis
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It could have been a number of things really, torches were used for lighting - sticks with material on the end and dipped in something flammable, pitch I think - and if my memory serves I think called links?
These could be dropped into circular brackets or conical ones on walls. How long they lasted alight I don't know. You occasionally used to see electric versions of the same thing outside deco hotels and such.
Otherwise early outdoor oil lights - not terribly effective I suspect - from rape oil, I have a reference to two street lamps in Aberdeen being installed c 1721.
I think candle lit fairy lights would have come later - strung up on wires across gardens... but no reason to think small candle powered lanterns wouldn't have been in use either.
Need to find more pictures of Ranelagh and Vauxhaull, the famous 18th century Pleasure Gardens...
[Open Image] [Hosted by PhotoGalaxy.com]
http://www.victorianlondon.org/publications/pleasuregardens-3-ranelagh.htm
There's a ref in that to more lighting being installed!
http://www.vauxhallsociety.org.uk/VauxhallGdns.html
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/sgdetail.shtml
http://www.cichw.net/pmvaux.html
http://www.cichw.net/pmvauxmisc.html
An Irish gentlemen visiting the Gardens in 1752, whose name is not recorded, wrote: The garden strikes the eye prodigiously; it is set with many rows of tall trees, kept in excellent order, among which are placed an incredible number of globe lamps, by which it is illuminated, and when they are lighted the sound of the music ravishing the ear, added to the great resort of company so well dressed and walking about, would almost make one believe he was in the Elysian fields.
However - if you think your brackets so historic, then I am sure the Garden History Society or the Georgian Group will be interested and be able to help with more detailed information.
A description would help...
These could be dropped into circular brackets or conical ones on walls. How long they lasted alight I don't know. You occasionally used to see electric versions of the same thing outside deco hotels and such.
Otherwise early outdoor oil lights - not terribly effective I suspect - from rape oil, I have a reference to two street lamps in Aberdeen being installed c 1721.
I think candle lit fairy lights would have come later - strung up on wires across gardens... but no reason to think small candle powered lanterns wouldn't have been in use either.
Need to find more pictures of Ranelagh and Vauxhaull, the famous 18th century Pleasure Gardens...
[Open Image] [Hosted by PhotoGalaxy.com]
http://www.victorianlondon.org/publications/pleasuregardens-3-ranelagh.htm
There's a ref in that to more lighting being installed!
http://www.vauxhallsociety.org.uk/VauxhallGdns.html
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/sgdetail.shtml
http://www.cichw.net/pmvaux.html
http://www.cichw.net/pmvauxmisc.html
An Irish gentlemen visiting the Gardens in 1752, whose name is not recorded, wrote: The garden strikes the eye prodigiously; it is set with many rows of tall trees, kept in excellent order, among which are placed an incredible number of globe lamps, by which it is illuminated, and when they are lighted the sound of the music ravishing the ear, added to the great resort of company so well dressed and walking about, would almost make one believe he was in the Elysian fields.
However - if you think your brackets so historic, then I am sure the Garden History Society or the Georgian Group will be interested and be able to help with more detailed information.
A description would help...
hibernianfc
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Thanks Moo and Nemesis. Will follow up your ideas/references. Camera playing up at moment...will post when I get it sorted out!
hibernianfc
hibernianfc