Thorn Beta 5 Lantern Installations
The Thorn Beta 5 may have been be the UK's most iconic SOX lantern, being used extensively throughout the country. It could run 26W SOX-E or 35W SOX, with remote geared and integral geared versions having been available. There are still countless locations where this lantern can be seen in service, easily identifiable with it's distinctive shape and aluminium construction.
Two-Gates Industrial Estate, Tamworth
Thorn Beta 5s are commonly found here on Industrial estates, the following examples are all from Two Gates Industrial Estate. They're all mostly forgotten about, missing bowls, lamps, blown lamps or just straight-up disconnected. Only a handful still work as SOX lamps are hard to come by and most companies don't care to pay for new ones. This one has had it's bowl missing for 8 years, and it hasn't worked since it lost it. The lack of a bowl allows us to see the failed 35W SOX lamp, and the sticker on the gear tray.
This beta 5 lost it's bowl 7 years ago, and much like the other it stopped working not long after. It would run on a Zodion SS6 photocell (if it worked)!
One of the last working examples on the site... Stay strong little beta 5!
Dosthill, Tamworth
Sefton Road supports three Beta 5s. Pictured below is the first of these (column T9)
If you look closely towards the rear of the lantern, the IP23 sticker is visible through the refractor bowl.
You may notice that each of these examples are base-sleeved. This occurred around 2017. T18 of the same road:
The lanterns all run 26W SOX-E lamps, and are fitted with Zodion SS6 photocells. They sport the older metal clip, which might be why they all still have their bowls!
Column T4, the last column on the road with a Beta 5:
Lichfield Industrial Estate, Tamworth
Yet another old lantern in Lichfield Industrial Estate here, this privately owned beta 5 is located on Apollo. It is situated on a 5m concrete column with a short, curved outreach bracket.
It used to run 26W SOX-E, and doesn't work. As you can see, the column around the bracket has begun to crumble. you can just about see the steel pipe within.
Coton Green, Tamworth
More Beta 5s used to exist in Coton Green. They were all on 5m concrete columns.
This one was located on Longleat, Coton Green.
You can see the annual cobweb and dirt convention had chosen this Beta 5s bowl. Looking closely, it appeared to have the bowl of a Philips MI26/MI50, you can see the metal wire that was tied to the clip to hold the bowl on...
On the same street, more bowl issues could be seen. This next Thorn Beta 5 had it's bowl held on entirely by tape! The front of the bowl was broken off, likely the reason for it's dirt and water intake...
Also on the street are more of the same 5m concrete columns and brackets, that used to support Beta 5s before they were replaced for S-Lines in early 2024.
Leyfields, Tamworth
Another, but rather unusual, example of a Thorn Beta 5 is this one, located on a small side-road on Stevenson Road, Tamworth. What makes it unusual is that it exists in a sea of Holophane V-Maxxes. It is mounted at 5m and runs 26W SOX-E. I have my eye on this Beta 5, I hope I can save it once it is replaced.
Amington, Tamworth
This little Thorn Beta Five was located around Sandy Way, Tamworth. You can see that it's bowl has taken some shots, but handled them well! It was mounted on a 5m concrete Stanton and Staveley column and ran 26W SOX-E, evident by the black rim at the base of the lamp (35W SOX lamp will have a red rim)! This installation was replaced in 2024.
Whittington
These Beta 5s were spotted on a trip to Whittington. The first to be photographed were these amazing installations! (I believe) GEC ZP1000 columns, topped off with pendant-mount Beta 5s. Column E2 on Swan Road was pictured first.
A close-up of the Beta 5. The chances are that a GEC lantern running mercury vapour would have been here originally.
The original column door has since been replaced.
Column E3 is an identical installation.
Another replacement column door was installed.
These installations have since been replaced.
Back Lane also has several Beta 5s. These are side-entry. Starting at column E9 is a continuous, uninterrupted stretch of these all the way to column E15, all running 26W SOX-E.
Column E9 was photographed first.
A Royce-Thompson two-part photocell can be seen protruding from the canopy.
Column E10 was in a similar state.
This time, a Zodion two-part photocell detector is apparent on top. This was almost certainly a replacement for a Royce Thompson two-parter.
Column E11 was in much better condition! The 26W SOX-E lamp can just-about be sighted through the foggy bowl.
Column E12:
I decided to wrap it up with column E13, and turn back around to head towards Huddlesford Lane, which begins at the junction between Back Lane and Chapel Lane.
Column E1 of Huddlesford Lane supports a tarnished Beta 5 which no-longer works.
Column E2 of opposite Chapel Lane is a similar installation.
I managed to grab a beautiful picture of this lantern from a different point further up the road.
Whittington Barracks
Column RR1 of Chester Road has a bowl-less Beta 5. I did have a good snoop around for the bowl in the undergrowth, but couldn't find it. It probably is there somewhere given how thick the undergrowth is...
Fazeley
New Mill Lane in Fazeley supports a top-entry Beta 5.
The lantern is in fair condition, despite being slightly mucky!
From this angle, the dead 26W SOX-E lamp is plainly visible through the bowl.
The column is in good condition overall, but the door is partially submerged in concrete.
Elford
Column E4 of Church Road is a wooden telegraph pole with an AC Ford pole bracket and a top-entry Beta 5.
The supply cable is present on the exterior of the column. Notice as well the Zodion CdSi two-part detector poking out of the NEMA turret on the canopy.
From this angle, some water is apparent in the bowl.
The lantern was spotted day-burning in September 2024.
The first lighting column along The Beck also supports a Beta 5, this one side-entry. Ivy encompasses the column, making for an interesting effect. This installation has since been removed.
Lichfield
Jumping over to Lichfield, on Fallow Field is a rather-odd Beta 5 on a street of Holophane V-Maxxes. It is mounted at 5m on a Stanton and Staveley concrete column.
If you look closely, the clip has come loose! I'm not sure how it's holding on, but somehow it is...
This Thorn Beta 5 is located on Townfields, Lichfield (an old street that was cut in half by the A51). It's building is listed as historic, so despite all of the other street lanterns being replaced by S-Lines, this one remains. It will do so for a while longer.
The bowl is severely coated in rust, likely due to water ingress washing rust off of the gear tray and gear. The white sticker on the canopy would have stated the number of the lantern, however this has since faded.
Britannia Way supports several privately owned Thorn Beta 5s. This 26W example can be seen day-burning.
Another example installed on the same building. These are switched from inside the building, as the ones lighting the entrance to the site are all day-burning, and don't have photocells.
Uttoxeter
Column C2 of Bridge Road, Uttoxeter is a cast-iron swan-neck column topped with a pendant Beta 5. This likely wasn't the original lantern installed here, but it is still a beautiful sight! The column would likely have been a gas column previously, before being electrified.
The lantern is in great condition, inside is a 26W SOX-E lamp. A NEMA cell is perched on the road-side of the canopy, and the lantern appears to be "secured" to the column with electrical tape, but it shouldn't have needed that. My only theory is it is to help prevent water-ingress.
The Zodion SS6 NEMA cell is dated to May 2012.
This is a good angle of the lantern from below. It is slightly misaligned.
A replacement column door is evident.
Kingfisher Way supports an interesting example of a long-abandoned Beta 5. This one is located in a disused alleyway next to Select Convenience.
Column C3 on Ashleigh Drive is a Stanton 5m concrete with a Beta 5.
A length of metal wire keeps the bowl secured. It seems these metal clips are actually weaker than the plastic ones. While the clip itself doesn't break, it can come undone a lot easier.
