UK, December 2024 – Acrospire collaborated with, Volker Highways and Bath &
North East Somerset Council to upgrade the lighting infrastructure along London
Road, a historic artery in Bath. Recognising the need to preserve the area’s Victorian
charm while enhancing energy efficiency, the project replaced inefficient SON and
SOX lamps with LED technology. Acrospire’s solution, the Holburne Heritage
Lanterns, not only met the technical requirements but also blended seamlessly with
Bath’s architectural heritage.

London Road, nestled in the heart of Bath, offers a unique glimpse into the city’s rich
history and industrial past. Despite being overlooked by more tourist-centric areas,
London Road holds its own with quaint antique stores and a gritty, time-worn
ambience reminiscent of Victorian times.

Bath’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site underscored the importance of
preserving its architectural integrity, particularly when attempting to modernise the
city’s lighting. Bath & North East Somerset Council collaborated with Spiers and
Major to devise a lighting strategy that specified using light not only to create an
appropriate ambience after dark but also to help define the city’s overall character
and distinguish between different areas. This approach was applied to a recent
heritage lighting LED upgrade project along London Road.

Stephen Burrell, Principal Engineer Street Lighting, Highways Maintenance &
Drainage, Environmental Services, Bath & North East Somerset Council, comments,
“We had finished the upgrade of our functional streetlighting, which was quite
straightforward. However, when it came to our heritage lanterns, every location was
different, effectively making each project bespoke. We have about 400- 500 heritage
luminaires across the region and the upgrade from the designs to the installation at
each site has been unique.”

Acrospire developed new heritage lanterns specifically for the London Road project,
replacing the existing SON and SOX lamps with LED while retaining a classical
Victorian appearance. The new heritage lantern, named Holburne, takes its name
from the Holburne Museum, where the core of the present-day collection was
established by Sir Thomas William Holburne (1793–1874).

Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and using locally sourced materials, these
lanterns embody the timeless elegance of Bath’s architectural heritage. Available in
two sizes, small and large, the Holburne lanterns boast a warm 3000K colour
temperature and precision optics to maintain the area’s classical charm while
directing light where needed.

The upgrade to LED technology resulted in energy savings while paying homage to
Bath’s cherished heritage status.
By introducing the Holburne heritage lanterns along London Road, the project
improved energy efficiency and contributed to the continued celebration of Bath’s
architectural characters and legacy.

Stephen says, “As cities strive to balance progress with heritage conservation,
initiatives like this serve as good examples of sustainable urban development. With
every project unique, what helps is working with a manufacturer like Acrospire, who
are always there to help, make suggestions and problem solve for each location.”