Were it not for the cars and the modern street furniture, this photograph could have been taken a hundred years ago – such is the faithfulness of the replica of Boston’s original Five Lamps.
Our congratulations go to Acorn Restorations, of Clevedon, Bristol for such a fine job.
Its website tells us: “The replica will stand at over seven metres (23 feet) tall, will be constructed of cast iron and will weigh in excess of 2½ tonnes. As its name implies, the column holds five off large hexagonal copper lanterns – which will each house 50 watt Son (sodium)  lighting in a pot optic enclosure. Furthermore, the column is designed to be retractable and removable should street festivities require clearance of the area.”
Already, an interesting debate has started among some of our older readers, who claim that the original was much taller.
Looking at the pictures at the foot of the page, we reckon that the replica is about as close to the original height as can be.
Not only that, but bearing in mind that the original lamps were powered by gas, anything too tall would shed little, if any light on the ground below.
Many people will recall  the lamps that replaced the 1850’s  original sometime during the 1920s – and given the modern monstrosity of more recent years, might be why they remember them as being taller.
And in case anyone thinks we are going soft in our old age, we would just add a couple of other points.
Firstly, we note that the Acorn Restorations online announcement which began: “The company is pleased to announce that it has been appointed to design and manufacture a replica of the Five Lamps Lighting Column in Boston, Lincolnshire ….” was posted on May 15th - eight weeks ago today.
Given some of the other prestigious jobs recently carried out by the company, we reckon that they have done the work in exceptionally good time.
What a shame that the order should have been put off for so long.
The replica was always on the cards, and  - had the orxder been placed a few weeks earlier - the lamps would have been in place for the Olympic Torch procession through the Market Place.
And one other thing … which is especially important given the recent Jubilee fountain fiasco, when a Tonka Toy fountain was dumped in Central Park ...
Whilst we doubt that vandals will be able to make even a dent in this splendid replica – it does seem that it has been built with climbing in mind.
Every few feet there are convenient bands and ridges which scream a challenge to a would-be lampaneer.
In the (very) old days, the Five Lamps were climbed as the clock chimed midnight  on New Year’s Eve as part of the light-hearted if slightly alcohol-infused celebration.
We fear the replica could become a target every drunken Friday and Saturday night unless some simple precautions are taken from the outset – especially in these health and safety obsessed times.
And one final point. What a delight that the column is designed to be retractable and removable.
Because it is in the wrong place.
Anyway – enough of that.
It is still a splendid piece of work.

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Our former blog is archived at: http://bostoneyelincolnshire.blogspot.com