National and International Lamp Posts of Stratford-upon-Avon
This unique and useful historic collection is always accessible, free of charge, and while it may not rank alongside the Bard for illuminating the human soul, it lights our way to, and within, the streets and paths of the Theatre Quarter in Stratford-upon-Avon. The collection came about due to the brilliant idea of a County Council Lighting Engineer, Keith Brodie, back in 1986. The collection is formed of lamp posts donated by various towns and cities both from within the UK and from around the world. Keith's idea was to erect lamps that represented the origins of our tourists. The first response came from Hungary in the form of a wooden case which weighed 150 kilograms, and was 5 metres long. Inside was a cast iron lamp post bearing the crest of the city of Budapest. Donations then flowed from many other sources, their current location being as shown on the map.
Many of the lamp posts have an intriguing story to tell. Israel's for instance, (No 41, close to the Swan Theatre) is adorned by figures modelled by the famous sculptor Frank Meisler. Although some visitors enjoy finding their “own Town’s” lamp post, it is perhaps because the collection is a useful “utility” that it is no longer gaining the attention of most residents, and is often passed by without a second glance. The lamp posts are owned by Warwickshire County Council, who maintain those on the streets. Those in the Theatre Gardens are maintained by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Some of this precious collection was lost during the 2010 re-development of Waterside and the Bancroft Gardens. Strenuous efforts were made by a small group of residents at that time, and since, to trace the lost posts.