Summary
Wall incorporating a former public water supply point established circa 1782 with an associated oil lamp standard erected circa 1800 and converted to coal gas in 1830.
Reasons for Designation
The wall with the C18 water supply point and the circa 1800 lamp standard are listed Grade II for the following principal reasons:
History
In 1771 Richmond’s market cross was replaced with a large obelisk built over a 12,000 gallon water cistern, this cistern forming part of the town’s public water supply. About a decade later, around 1782, a water supply outlet from this cistern was created at the junction between Bargate and Cornforth. It is thought that around 1800 this site was provided with an oil lamp set on a standard which was then converted to coal gas in 1830, following the establishment of the Richmond Gas Works in 1821. The wall that incorporates the water supply point and lamp standard is depicted on the first edition 1:10560 Ordnance Survey map surveyed in 1854, but does not mark the lamp or water supply because of the scale of the map. The 1:500 Town Plan surveyed 1891-1892 does mark the water supply, depicting a water trough projecting west from the wall, identified W.T. The lamp, marked as L, is shown at the southern end of the wall indicating that it was repositioned about 4m northwards to its current location, probably after its use for street lighting ended. It is not known when the lamp and water supply were decommissioned.
Details
Wall incorporating a former public water supply of circa 1782 and a street lamp of circa 1800.
End of official list entry
