Three bulb lamp fitting from Wentworth Castle by Faraday and Son

Three bulb lamp fitting from Wentworth Castle by Faraday and Son, 1886.

These light fittings are a remnant of a very important early installation of electric light, for its scale, its scope and the fact that the owner commissioned it as a commercial contract from a professional engineer, who co-ordinated all the other suppliers and trades. Faraday & Son designed and fabricated this light fitting for Wentworth Castle. It was one of a pair installed over the fireplace in the 'Gallery' space at Wentworth Castle, the other being Science Museum object number 1953-283. These were installed before August 1885 and switched on 22nd December 1885. The original invoice for the electrical installation at the Castle describes these fittings as 'l[am]p brackets with chased leafage (Gallery) 60 shillings [each] [total] £18.00'. They were installed in the Gallery, the most magnificent room in the House, in a Baroque wing built in 1711-1725. At 30 feet high and nearly 180 feet long, it was said to be the longest room in England at that time. In 1885, it was still the show-piece room, full of pictures, and was very carefully lit by electrical engineer Wilson Hartnell. In an 1886 article on the installation, probably written by Hartnell, he describes 'the brackets are floral designs, of light, simple character and graceful form, and free from superfluities, but of the best workmanship, by Messrs. Faraday and Son'.