Historic Street Lamps Stolen in Cambridge, Labeled ‘Heritage Crime’

Experts have characterized the theft of three distinctive street lamps from Cambridge city center as a “heritage crime.” These fixtures, known as Richardson candle lamps, were placed on various streets during the 1950s, drawing inspiration from a design exhibited at the 1951 Festival of Britain. According to Cambridgeshire Police, these listed lamps were seemingly removed at different intervals between approximately September 13 and October 1, specifically from Jesus Lane, St John’s Street, and Trumpington Street. The county council stated that the absent lanterns would be replaced, though it could not specify the duration of this process. Historic England reports that architect Sir Albert Edward Richardson designed the Cambridge lamps, having been commissioned in 1957 to create custom street lighting for the city. Richardson held a critical view of contemporary lighting, famously calling a new concrete street lamp near his Bedfordshire residence “a monstrosity.” These vertical tubular lanterns acquired the moniker “Richardson candles.” Almost half of those originally installed in the 1950s remain, and all possess Grade II listed building status. A spokesperson for Historic England commented: “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 includes these lamps in its Capturing Cambridge project, characterized them as “a design unique to Cambridge.” The museum indicated that the lamps were installed in locations such as Trumpington Street, St John’s Street, Trinity Street, Silver Street, and King’s Parade. Cambridgeshire Police reported that the initial theft notification came on October 3, detailing a lantern taken from Trumpington Street sometime after October 1. A subsequent theft was reported on October 8, concerning a light removed from Jesus Lane between September 13 and 14. The third incident was reported on October 24, involving a lantern’s disappearance from St John’s Street between September 23 and October 23. A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire County Council stated: “We’re aware that three lanterns have been removed in Cambridge. A report has been made to the police and we’re working with our contractors to replace these lamps.”