Historical city lamps found in theft investigation

Richardson candle lamps like this one were stolen from the top of lamp-posts in Cambridge city centre

Historical listed street lamps stolen in Cambridge have been recovered in a haul found by police in a neighbouring county earlier this month.

Three of the lanterns - known as Richardson candle lamps - were reported stolen last year in Trumpington Street and St John's Street in the city.

Hertfordshire Police has now confirmed that two of the three lamps were among 296 lights and lanterns found at an address in Barkway, near Royston, on 11 January.

An 18-year-old man from Barkway was arrested on suspicion of theft and has been released on police bail while investigations continue.

PC Tom Woollard and his colleagues released images of some of the lamps that were found, in the hope of reuniting them with their owners

The lamps in Cambridge were designed by architect Sir Albert Edward Richardson, who was commissioned to design bespoke new street lighting for the city in 1957, according to Historic England.

The vertical tubular lanterns became known as Richardson candles and nearly half of those installed in the 50s survive, and all have Grade II listed building status.

They were based on a design that had been on show at the Festival of Britain in 1951.

The lamps were removed at various times between about 13 September and 1 October.

Historic England said they were a "distinctive feature of Cambridge city centre" and described their theft as an "apparent heritage crime".

Hertfordshire Police, which found almost 300 lights and lanterns, said they were believed to have been taken from various locations across Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire in the past six months.

It said it was trying to reunite the street lamps, or other ornate fittings, with their owners.

One of the lanterns was removed from the top of a lamp-post in Cambridge city centre