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Town's Victorian Lamps Restored

BEAUTIFULLY-restored Victorian lamps which once graced the frontage of the homes of Stranraer's provosts,  now adorn the entrance to Stranraer's Town Kirk.

For the last year. Mr Archie Bell of Stranraer has been working to restore them to their former glory after their stay in front of Stranraer Old Parish Church.

Before the reorganisation of local government in 1975, Stranraer, as was most other Scottish towns, was run by a town council with the provost at its head. Each has two lamps outside his or her front door. Ex-provosts had one.

It was two of those lights that were moved to the Old Parish Church following reorganisation. When the church closed in 2004 it was suggested the lights should be moved to the Town Kirk.

Mr Bell has entirely rebuilt the top of one of the lamps, all the glass replaced on both and the painted town crests traced from the one remaining original painted glass panel in the museum in Stranraer.