Met this guy whilst walking through Guildhall tonight.

He’s one of the five people who are looking after the 1200 gas lights across London.

He was replacing some old parts for the timer which automatically turns on the lights every night.

He said the old mechanical timers, some of which are 100+ yrs old work better than the new ones.

I was at a conference all day about AI changing the working world so it seemed extra poignant that this old technology is still going strong and employing people.

by jonbennallick

19 comments

  4. What a job! I’m looking for a new one that would be awesome – just imagine the conversations you could have when someone asks you what you do. 

  6. There is a lot of gaslighting down in Green Park, you know the park next to Buckingham Palace!

  7. Absolutely unsurprised to find that the 100 yo parts work better than the new ones. We truly are in the worst timeline (quality wise at least)

  10. I hope you reminded him to light the lamp not the rat.

  11. I used to sit next to the person in the office who ordered their spare parts.

  12. Some dirty bar steward let off gas on the escalator tonight in front of my face, nasty man! 🤢

  13. As much as I’m against fossil-fuelled public lighting, I truly love the history London has.. nowhere else has captivated me as much.. not even close. 

  14. When I was a lad, there’d be none of those fancy ladders. You’d have to climb up with your bare fingernails and light the thing with your own breath. Then head to school for a beating and be grateful for it.

    Those were the good ol’ days.

  18. While not as active as they were a couple years ago, you might want to check out the London Gasketeers:

    They’re working to preserve the gas lamps of London

  19. The fact we still have gaslight in some of our historic areas is a lovely little treat.

    I hope when we move to renewables we can switch them over to something (methane?) That will keep them. We managed it when we dropped Town Gas…

Comments are closed.