Thorn Precinct Lantern Installations

Thorn Precincts were a common sight around the UK from 1973 onwards. The blocky lanterns could run 80W-125W MBF/U, or 50W-70W SON. They could be wall or column mounted, with column options available as single or double lanterns. Nowadays, these are somewhat of a rarity, owing to replacement schemes.

Birmingham

These very rare double-lantern Precincts were spotted just-off Lower Loveday Street. Oddly, they appear to be mounted on signposts or traffic light columns.

They look to light the canal path too, because that floodlight sure won't!

The closest double-Precinct to the road:

Burton-upon-Trent

Outside of Burton Library is an abandoned Thorn Precinct. The installation is falling apart nowadays, and I would image it no-longer works.

Only the corner of the bowl remains.

The missing bowl allowed me to get a good close-up of the lantern's sticker. 22/05 could refer to the date of production for this lantern - the 22nd week of 2005, but this would be quite late for a Precinct and would make it one of the last ones made. It appears this is a Mk.13.

The lantern is installed atop a Thorn Q.C.4. Column.

The door is long-gone, but this allows a Lucy cut out to be seen installed in the column.

Lichfield

I'm not sure why Thorn Lighting makes the most bizarre looking lanterns, but it's rather satisfying to see them out-and-about. The Thorn Precinct is no exception to that rule! This Thorn Precinct is the first one I've actually seen in person. It is located on a parking area at the end of Meadowbrook Road, Lichfield. Newer lanterns and floods have been installed, yet the old installations still remain. It likely ran MBF/U when it was in service. There is also a dormant GEC Z8896 which can be seen in the background.

London

Around the stairs to the Golden Jubilee Bridges are a few Thorn Precinct Mk.13s.

There are also some wall-mounted variants. Some of them are damaged, such as this example, which reveals the destroyed lamp.

You can just-about see the sticker from the right angle.

The wall-mounted ones feature unique brackets that I have not yet seen anywhere else. The precincts are technically the post-top type.

More unique green examples also exist here.

Rugby

An alleyway behind Rugby Central boasts four Precinct lanterns, running 50W SON-E lamps.

Three generations of bulkhead exist here, with the Precinct and fluorescent bulkhead having been disconnected and left to the elements. The lamp was saved from this example.

They are only mounted at 2m, so this made for a detailed set of photographs:

The next Precinct was in similar condition, but the lamp's bulb was completely smashed, which left just a crooked arc tube and E27 base.

The third Precinct along is in much better condition, still having it's bowl.