Grosvenor Wine Stores, Corner of Pemberton, 1908

Comment by Justin Guest on May 1, 2013 at 9:49

Well, well. Do you remember it was a Threshers not too long ago. I wonder how long it was an off-licence, and whether it always was up to Threshers given it would have needed a licence!

That is great, thanks Hugh.

Comment by Hugo Read on May 1, 2013 at 12:57

That's great, thanks Hugh. Is there a high-res copy of that photo anywhere that we could get hold of? I'd love to get a decent print of that....

Comment by Justin Guest on May 9, 2013 at 9:26

I meant to also point out that if you look carefully today you can still see the remains of the old gas lamp  that sits above the separate door as you start going up Pemberton (the door behind the barrow you can see sat in the road). It is not 100% clear in the photo Hugh posted, but if you know what to look for you can see it there. See photo taken a few days ago.

Comment by matthew cuthbert on May 21, 2013 at 1:06

Threshers not that long ago.

Comment by Hugo Read on May 21, 2013 at 7:27

Good spot Jus. Any thoughts about my previous question re a high-res copy Hugh?

Comment by Hugh on May 21, 2013 at 15:42

Yes - can do a print. Will drop you a line.

Comment by Justin Guest on January 8, 2016 at 12:43

Possibly. I saw an article recently I wish I had kept in the Independent about the remaining 1400 odd gas lamps in London and the gas-lighters who look after them. The best I can do is this Daily Mail article...

If you walk up Pemberton a little ways on the same sides as this you will see a 20m odd pole painted green at the bottom, and several like it dotted around the Ladder and the Passage. These are stench pipes venting methane and other noxious gasses from the sewers that run beneath the street, and which would have powered the street lamps...

Comment by Richard Woods on January 9, 2016 at 13:39

I grew up in gaslit Harringay. Until the latish50s the gas lights were lit each night by a traditional gas lamplighter on his bike with a wick on a long pole. He would pull (push?) the valve controls and then light the flame, waiting a few mos until the mantle lit properly. The light was excellent but could blow out in high winds, leaving he uncontrolled gas in the breeze (no danger; blow away). Our house was gaslit when we moved in but electricity was also installed. Some houses still had gas in 1946.

lampligher images

Comment by Geraldine on January 10, 2016 at 0:32

I remember when the 'new' street lighting was introduced.  I thought the light wasn't nearly as clear and bright as the old gas lighting.  Many houses had the original gas fittings for lighting in the 1950s.

Comment by penny on January 21, 2016 at 15:22

I've been googling for most of the day re gas lights in harringay! Thank you Richard Woods!! I lived on stanhope gardens from 1958 - I just couldn't work out if I'd actually seen the gasman lighting up the lamps or if I'd imagined it!   

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