Page 10 - HGS Suburb News 144 - December 2020
P. 10
Suburb pillar boxes Is the new LED Suburb street lighting safe?
hilst taking our daily VI box is behind Lyttelton Road hen we were on lockdown
Wwalks during Lockdown 1 at the junction of Widecombe Wand the days were getting
we realised that the Suburb Way and Vivian Way. longer, residents may not have
boasted a variety of post boxes There are only two boxes noticed in the Spring (March
and decided to add interest to within the Suburb from the nearly 2020) that Barnet replaced the COPYRIGHT: SPEIRS & MAJOR
our walks by looking out for them. 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s old high-pressure sodium street
Pillar boxes were first introduced reign. The great advantage of lights with 4000K white LEDs.
in the Channel Islands in 1852 these is that their aperture is Introducing ‘green technology’
and then extended to the larger so that A4-sized letters that will reduce our carbon foot-
mainland in 1853. Since these can easily be posted. One is at print and save energy as well as
Victorian beginnings, boxes the junction of Hampstead Way money is a good thing; however,
have usually carried the insignia, and Meadway and was installed these particular lights are ‘blue-
or cipher, of the monarch reigning some years ago to replace one rich’ and a cause of great concern
at the time of placement. damaged in a vehicle accident to conservationists and scientists.
There are about 30 boxes in (Pic. 4). The other one on Holne There is a broad spectrum of
the Suburb and they span the Chase near the junction with white light available that ranges
reigns of all the monarchs since Kingsley Way is probably a from ‘Extra-Warm White’ to ‘Cool
the Suburb was founded in 1907, similar replacement. White’. These particular lights
with the exception of King These two boxes have ‘Royal (4000K) are ‘Cool White’ and
Edward VIII who only reigned Mail’ embossed on them while contain short-wave blue: this migration, reproduction and the world have a strong blue down to safer levels. Brightness,
in 1936 and was never crowned. all the earlier boxes have ‘Post causes glare and also reflects back foraging habits of birds, bats component in their output. As and therefore vision, are not
There are five post boxes Office’. This change occurred in up from hard surfaces, causing and owls; destroys millions of the colour temperature (range affected. In fact, as there is less
from King Edward VII’s reign the early 1990s ahead of the even more light pollution than nocturnal insects every night, of radiation coming from the glare and reflection than with
with his crown and cipher. split between the Royal Mail the lights they replaced. More affecting pollination and thereby light) decreases it becomes less 4000K, lighting of 2700K is safer
Three are in the ‘artisan quarter’, Group and the Post Office. In alarmingly, a significant and fruit, flower and crop production; blue-white and warmer. The as it allows for better night vision.
one is at the junction of Asmuns addition, the post boxes outside ever-growing body of research and disturbs the photosynthesis colour temperature is measured Barnet will already have
Hill and Erskine Hill and another the Post Offices in Market Place is showing that lighting in and seasonal phenology of in degrees Kelvin (K). 3000K or made substantial financial
is on Hampstead Way at the and Temple Fortune are both excess of 3000K is detrimental plants and trees, affecting their less is called ‘Warm White’ light, savings and vision will have
junction with Temple Fortune large, oval, dual-aperture Queen to the environment and health. health. The whole delicate and 4000K and above ‘Cool been improved by changing
Hill: this is the most interesting Elizabeth II boxes. The rapid spread of outdoor balance of the ecosystem on White’. 3000K to 4000K is often from high-pressure sodium
box as it has a slot on the top All the boxes within the electric lighting over the past which we depend is affected. called ‘Bright White’. lights to LEDs. Residents may
for an oval notice. The third one Suburb are cylindrical pillar century has caused unprecedented Turning night into day is not a Lighting of 2700K (used in like to consider whether it is
is, strictly speaking, outside the boxes and have fluted caps – a disruption to natural light-cycles. good thing. Britain in many conservation appropriate for the Council to
Suburb on Finchley Road near ‘pie crust’ indentation around Light at night disrupts the The new bright white LED areas), remains within the introduce these lights to our
Waitrose. The fourth is at the them – a design feature to circadian rhythm of the natural lights that are appearing in spectrum of white light but is streets without consultation.
junction of Corringham Road facilitate rainwater run-off. world. It affects inter alia the streets and public places all over warmer and brings wavelengths ISABELLE FICKER
and Rotherwick Road. The fifth The names of the various
is on Ingram Avenue and it is manufacturers are embossed
something of a puzzle as according around the black base but are
to an early map this area was fields often difficult to read and only
in 1910! Perhaps it was moved the two Queen Elizabeth II boxes
from elsewhere at a later date? include the dates of casting. PHOTOS: JANE & MARTIN BAILEY
Most Suburb post boxes were As communication becomes
erected during the reign of King increasingly electronic these
George V (1910-1936). These typically British red beacons
boxes have a crown and plain remain iconic.
GR cipher without a ‘V’ (Pic. 2). JANE AND MARTIN BAILEY
We only found two pillar
boxes from the reign of King References –
George VI (1936-1952). The one The Letter Box Study Group:
at the junction of Northway www.lbsg.org
and Thornton Way is the only ‘Find Your Nearest Postbox’:
box not situated outside a post www.postboxes.dracos.co.uk
office where there is a late Old Ordnance Survey Maps:
collection: 3.30pm on a week Kenwood & Golders Hill 1894
day and 10.30am on a Saturday & 1915; London Sheet 18;
(Pic. 3). The other King George The Godfrey Edition. Pic 1: King Edward VII Post Box Pic 2: King George V Post Box Pic 3: King George VI Post Box Pic 4: Queen Elizabeth II Post Box
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