The cabinet by the school is almost certainly what I would call an electricity distribution pillar.

In reply to a post by eckiedoo:

Morning Paul

Thanks for that Postcode.

The newer paving slabs beside it; and also beside the nearer, round, man-hole cover, may be associated with it, so also take a look at the circular cover, for names, initials etc.

Afternoon.
Do you know what, I never even noticed that round manhole cover , just shows doesn't it
But yeah when I am out next (not sure when) I will take a closer pic of the plaque as we as the round manhole cover.

In reply to a post by eckiedoo:

I note that it apears to be in Newham, so you may have to look further afield to positively identify the "badge".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romford

Suburban expansion
(second Paragraph)
"
The right to supply electricity to the town was secured by the County of London Electricity Supply Company in 1913. Initially power was generated within the Star Brewery site, with the supply switching to Barking Power Station in 1925.[15] Gas supply began in 1825 with gas works of 25 acres (10 ha) constructed by 1938.[15] Following the Telegraph Act 1899 Romford became part of the Post Office London telephone area[19] and the Romford exchange was recorded as having 240 subscribers in 1916.[20] The town water supply initially came from the Havering Well, and 1859 a new public well and pump was built at the east end of the market.[15] The South Essex Waterworks Company started installing mains water supply in 1863 and had offices in South Street. By 1905 its supply was serving Ilford, Collier Row, Ardleigh Green, Brentwood, and Hornchurch. Sewage works were installed by the local board at Oldchurch in 1862, with further works built in Hornchurch in 1869.[15]
"

This may give a lead-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_London...

Interesting what comes to light!

Yes, defiantly.

paul

In reply to a post by Sylcol:

The cabinet by the school is almost certainly what I would call an electricity distribution pillar.

What I don't get is, surly its no longer in use, was also wondering why it wasn't removed, unless its a registered land mark.

Paul

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

In reply to a post by Sylcol:

The cabinet by the school is almost certainly what I would call an electricity distribution pillar.

What I don't get is, surly its no longer in use, was also wondering why it wasn't removed, unless its a registered land mark.

Paul

It could still be in use and as eckiedoo says the newer slabs - which appear to have sunk too suggests recent (in comparison to the cabinet age) work.

In reply to a post by MHC:

It could still be in use and as eckiedoo says the newer slabs - which appear to have sunk too suggests recent (in comparison to the cabinet age) work.

Well they would need to use an angle grinder or a plasma cutter to get into it due to the doors are rusted shut

Paul

second one looks like a small pcp

http://www.robertos.me.uk/html/bt_furniture_6.html

I worked in the supply industry for years. Still some of those pillars in use in my area,they really were built to last,made of cast iron!

Afternoon Paul

The pavement manhole covers in Edinburgh date from around 1910; and are still very much in use, although the vast majority have probably not been lifted/opened for over 50 years.

Back before the 1950s, the one by our then family home was opened about once per year, and the sealant replaced - a type of putty with a distinct yellow colour.

But that maintenance routine seemed to be abandoned after nationalisation of the electrical supply industry.

That I recollect, the cabling from that manhole in to our house was upgraded about 1950, when we had an immersion heater fitted. I don't know whether that was total replacement or an additional cable drawn in.

------------

Possibly someone else can confirm; but as far as I recollect, cast-iron tending to be crystalline, does not rust readily, particularly if it has had been primed properly..

In contrast, the other box looks relatively modern, 10 to 20 years old, probably made from mild steel, so much less likely to survive as long as the cast one.

The cast one, being on the line of the school wall, was/is probably the main junction box from the street run in to that school, which in itself appears to be from the early 1900s, so around the time that the LCC was starting to provide such services.

Unless the cabling has clearly deteriorated or needs upgrading/uprating, generally will survive for "centuries".

Not quite the same; but I recollect reading in the then 11970s Post Office Telephones magazine that some telegraph poles had just been taken out of service in Birmingham; and were about 120 years old, having been erected in the early days of telegraphy.

Edited by deleted (Fri 13-Feb-15 17:47:47)

In reply to a post by sheppy:

second one looks like a small pcp

http://www.robertos.me.uk/html/bt_furniture_6.html

That image seems a lot smaller than the one in my image, going by the amount of rows of the brick wall behind.

Paul

Regarding the second cabinet, look for typical BT (or Post Office Telephones) man-hole/chamber covers in the pavement nearby, say up to 10 metres away.

If none, then very unlikely to be BT etc.

Postcode for it?

Edited by deleted (Mon 16-Feb-15 11:41:51)