Let There Be Light
- Tracy Skeates
- Sep 19
- 2 min read
From the time that man discovered fire, the human race has been trying to illuminate the dark hours. Initially using flaming torches and then candles, which were first used in 3000 B.C. by ancient Egyptians using reeds soaked in tallow.
It must have been very nice to live in an era when the ravages of time were erased by soft glowing candlelight and your jewels glistened as you moved. Just so long as you had your pox mark patch on, didn’t smile too much and show your manky teeth, you'd look beautiful.
Setting aside the first oil lamps which were mass produced in Egypt, Greece and Rome, the first controllable oil lamps were invented around 1780 when Aime Argand a Swiss chemist, invented and patented the “Argand Lamp”. This design endured and was built-upon in the Victorian era with improvements to fuel, wicks and safety measures. One of them most recognisable and well respected English Oil lamp makers in the Victorian era, was James Hinks, who invented the “Duplex” burner in 1865.
Gas lighting became popular in the early 19th century and was predominantly used to light shops, factories and public houses. I myself have been into pubs that STILL have gas lighting. One was in Harrogate and the other is a pub in Bristol called “The bag of Nails” that Gareth and myself visited often.
Although Oil lamps were still being widely used, particularly in rural areas, electric lighting started to be used in the early 20th century in public spaces and by the very wealthy. By the 1930s it was common in most homes, driven by the creation of the National Grid. The lighting of the art deco era is quite fantastic and like today, wasn’t simply a means to see after sundown, but was an important part of the decor.
This era is by far my favourite.
Tracy Skeates
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