Lamp columns to esplanade, east of South Parade Pier

Esplanade, Southsea and Eastney, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO4 0RN

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Overview

Lamp columns. Erected in around the early C20 probably by Drew-Bear, Ransome and Perks, Engineers, London.
Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1387217
Date first listed:
18-Mar-1999
List Entry Name:
Lamp columns to esplanade, east of South Parade Pier
Statutory Address:
Esplanade, Southsea and Eastney, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO4 0RN
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Archive image, may not represent current condition of site.
Date:
2005-11-18
Reference:
IOE01/14921/18
Rights:
© Mr Glyn Edmunds . Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1387217
Date first listed:
18-Mar-1999
Date of most recent amendment:
30-Mar-2023
List Entry Name:
Lamp columns to esplanade, east of South Parade Pier
Statutory Address 1:
Esplanade, Southsea and Eastney, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO4 0RN

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
Esplanade, Southsea and Eastney, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO4 0RN

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
City of Portsmouth (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
SZ6523698157

Summary

Lamp columns. Erected in around the early C20 probably by Drew-Bear, Ransome and Perks, Engineers, London.

Reasons for Designation

The lamp columns, erected in around the early C20 on the Portsmouth seafront, are listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* as highly decorative lamp columns displaying a significant degree of architectural embellishment and high-quality moulded and fretted ironwork;

Group value:

* as part of a large group of 62 lamp columns on the Southsea and Eastney seafront, all of which are Grade II-listed, and with the numerous designated buildings, structures and gardens along the seafront.

History

In the early C19 Southsea began to develop as a residential suburb of Portsmouth and a seaside resort. Southsea Common was subsequently laid out as a pleasure ground with Clarence Esplanade constructed in 1848 and housing development to the north and east of the common in the mid-C19. Eastney developed to the east of Southsea largely between the late C19 and early C20. The esplanade between Southsea and Eastney was laid out in the late C19 and early C20, as indicated by historic OS maps. A series of cast-iron decorative lamp columns were erected at this time. The 1898 OS map (1:2500) shows possible markers for lamp columns at Southsea, although this is not clear. Eastney Esplanade developed in the early C20 and any columns there were erected during that period, although it is also possible that all the lamps along the Southsea and Eastney seafront were added at the same time in the early C20.

Details

Lamp columns. Erected in around the early C20 probably by Drew-Bear, Ransome and Perks, Engineers, London.

MATERIALS: cast-iron columns with glass lanterns.

DESCRIPTION: eighteen lamp columns spaced at intervals. Each a tall round column with an ornate fluted pedestal with a moulded base and cap upon which is set a bulbous iron leaf motif surmounted by a further fluted column, then the main cast-iron column which has a Corinthian capital two-thirds up. The top of the column is surmounted by ornate moulded and fretted ironwork with the Portsmouth City crest at the centre and paired swan neck arms supporting two lanterns. Original lanterns are hexagonal iron-framed glass lanterns. The pedestal of the columns hold the manufacturers plate and another Portsmouth city crest. Some of the lanterns have broken, missing or replacement parts, or have undergone repair. These lamp columns are currently (2022) numbered 15 to 32.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
475144
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Other
OS Maps (1:2500): 1867, 1898, 1909, 1933

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Lamp columns to esplanade, east of South Parade Pier

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 22-Jun-2026 at 01:55:05.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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