Police in Hertfordshire have recovered nearly 300 historic streetlamps after arresting an 18-year-old man suspected of theft. The lamps, some dating back to the 1950s, were stolen from various locations across Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Bedfordshire over the past six months. Among the recovered items are three Grade II listed Richardson candle lamps, which were stolen from Cambridge last year and considered a 'heritage crime'. Authorities are working to reunite the recovered lamps with their rightful owners.
Investigations into the theft of nearly 300 historic streetlamps across multiple counties have resulted in the arrest of a suspect. Hertfordshire Police revealed that they recovered a diverse collection of lamps and lanterns, varying in shape, size, and design, from a residential address. The recovered items range from pristine condition to those showing signs of wear and tear, including oxidation or missing glass.
Among the recovered pieces are three fittings dating back to the 1950s, known as Richardson candle lamps, which were stolen from Cambridge last year. The loss of these lamps prompted Historic England to classify the theft as a 'heritage crime'.\A 18-year-old man was apprehended on suspicion of theft at a property in Barkway, a village near Royston, earlier this month. He was released on police bail pending further investigations and is scheduled to report to a police station on April 1. PC Thomas Woollard of the North Herts Neighbourhood Policing Team stated, 'We believe the majority of the recovered items originate from Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Bedfordshire, and they may have been missing for the past six months.' This case presents a unique challenge, and significant investigations are underway to identify the origins of the recovered items. Authorities have already reached out to local councils and Historic England. Anyone who believes some of the recovered items might belong to them is urged to contact the authorities.\The recovered collection includes 296 fixtures, encompassing streetlamps and other lighting fixtures believed to have originated from residential properties. The Richardson lamps, designated as Grade II listed, vanished from three historic streets in Cambridge between September 13 and October 1, according to Cambridgeshire Police. Designed by the renowned architect Sir Albert Edward Richardson, who was commissioned to create new lighting for the university city in 1957, these lamps drew inspiration from models showcased at the Festival of Britain in 1951. Sir Albert, a vocal critic of modern lighting, once deemed a concrete streetlamp outside his Bedfordshire home a 'monstrosity'. His design for the Cambridge lamps featured an eye-catching vertical tubular structure that continues to adorn other streets in the city. When the thefts were reported, a Historic England spokesperson remarked, 'The Richardson candle streetlights are a distinctive feature of Cambridge city centre and are Grade II listed. We are aware of the unexplained disappearance of three of the lamps and have offered our support and advice to Cambridgeshire Police in their investigation of this apparent heritage crime.' The Museum of Cambridge, which showcased these lights in its 'Capturing Cambridge' project, described them as a 'design unique' to the city. Cambridgeshire County Council confirmed that it had reported the thefts to the police upon becoming aware of them and is collaborating with contractors to replace the missing lamps.\Thefts of historic metal and stone items are on the rise, according to a 2024 report by Historic England and the National Police Chiefs’ Council. The report highlights the targeting of metal from church roofs and the removal of stone walls, paving slabs, troughs, and fountains. Often, thieves disguise themselves as contractors in high-visibility jackets to carry out these thefts under the pretense of essential work
STREETLAMPS THEFT HERITAGE CRIME HISTORIC ENGLAND CAMBRIDGESHIRE HERTS POLICE ARREST
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