Summary

A pair of tall street lamp standards, designed by Elisabeth Scott (of Scott, Chesterton and Shepherd), in association with her design for the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre (then called the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre) and completed in 1932.

Description

A pair of tall street lamp standards, designed by Elisabeth Scott (of Scott, Chesterton and Shepherd), in association with her design for the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre (then called the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre) and completed in 1932.

MATERIAL & PLAN: each standard has a cast iron stem with a domed metal hood and reflective underside.

DETAILS: the circular stems have a series of offsets, in the manner of an extended telescope. To the top of each is a circular plate which carries the lamps, above which is a faceted, domed metal canopy with a reflective inner surface, which projects the light downwards.

History

A fire in 1926 destroyed large parts of the auditorium of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre which had been designed by Dodgshun and Unsworth in 1877. A competition was held in 1928 to design a replacement and Elisabeth Scott's design (Scott, Chesterton and Shepherd) won. The new building, in an Art Deco style, also included elements of the former theatre complex. It was completed in 1932. Elisabeth Scott's design was the first prominent public building in England to be built to the designs of a woman architect. In addition, Scott provided designs for the layout of the landscape to the north of the new theatre, across the area called Bancroft, which were partially implemented, including this pair of lamp standards.

Reasons for Listing

The pair of lamp standards designed by Elisabeth Scott, The Bancroft, Stratford-upon-Avon are listed at Grade II for the following reasons:

* Architectural quality: the pair of lamp stands were designed by the noted architect Elisabeth Scott and completed by 1932 in a simple but elegant style which matches that of the theatre building immediately behind them;
* Degree of survival: the lamp standards have been little altered and remain in their original positions;
* Group value: the lamp stands form a coherent group with the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (listed Grade II*) and also with the numerous other listed buildings which are grouped along Waterside.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478201

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)