George John Vulliamy, the superintending architect of the Metropolitan Board of Water, created these electric lamps that stretch along the Thames in 1870. Although they are referred to as dolphins – possibly because they are supposed to be modelled on dolphin sculptures that are part of the Fontana del Nettuno in Rome – they are actually sturgeons.
Originally a gas lamp, which was invented from around 1807, a lamplighter would have rested his ladder against the specially constructed set of horizontal bars, as they lit the flame at dusk and then again in the morning as they extinguished it.
Dating from 1874 this granite green painted plinth with a design of oak leaves and acorns with two climbing boys is just by Albert Bridge on Chelsea Embankment in London.
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