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By Mike Chapman
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In common with other villages, Twerton probably had some form of street lighting from oil lamps by the early 19th century. These however would only have been sited at particularly significant sites (e.g. the Church entrance, over front doors of Inns, &c.) and were generally provided privately - a situation which would not have altered when the parish was connected to the gas supply system in 1866. Indeed, when public lighting was first proposed for the principal roads in the parish in 1873 it was firmly rejected by the Select Vestry on account of the additional burden on the rates of the householders. When it was finally adopted in 1888, a series of conventional lantern lamps on standards was installed in the High Street, but only along the north side. There were also a few (probably private) bracket lamps attached to structures such as the Institute gatepost and over the Full Moon door, but none over any of the shops (as generally found in the urban commercial centres).
With the arrival of electricity, a more modern ‘swan-neck’ design was adopted in the 1930s, but there was little alteration in the layout, as the new electrical fittings were merely installed onto the original standards. With the increase in motor traffic, however, the standard at the top of Mill Lane was moved to the opposite side of the road, replacing the Institute lamp, and another by the station arch was moved to the south side by Fernley Terrace. Several standards of this design still remain in the churchyard. Since WWII the introduction of overhead sodium lamps has resulted in the complete reorganisation of the street standards, and the majority are now located on the south side of the road.
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