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| Bedford Street, February, 2019 |
Until quite recently a pair of singularly ornate, decorative lamps adorned the entrance to Lord Mayors' homes, whether they resided on the Shankill Road, Andersonstown, or Malone Park.
The features of these elaborate lampposts may have been gilded originally.
Sir Charles Brett remarked that "four cretinous putti, coy and obscene" surrounded the columns.
One putto peruses a book; another wears a masonic apron with a trowel; yet another grasps a boat.
The fourth, which faces the Ulster Hall, has unhappily lost his implement.
Seahorses surround the columns below the putti feet.
It is thought that Belfast city Council felt that the erection of these civic lampposts outside the homes of Lord Mayors was impractical, given that the office of Lord Mayor is usually rotated annually by several parties.
Sir Reg Empey (now the Lord Empey), Lord Mayor, 1989-90, and 1993-4, had the lampposts outside his home.
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| Mayoral Lamps, Antrim Road, Belfast (Image: Belfast Live) |
Which Lord Mayor lived on the Antrim Road in the 1960s? Kinahan?
Who was the last Lord Mayor to enjoy this civic mark of honour?
It was suggested to me that Dr Ian Adamson OBE, Lord Mayor, 1996-7, was the last city councillor to enjoy that distinction.
First published in February, 2019.
2 comments :
The Lord Mayor who lived on the Antrim Road was Joseph Cairns.
There was the remnant of one on the Antrim Road a few years back.
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