Volunteers sought for historic survey

VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help protect one of Frome’s most unique and visible heritage assets. 

The Cockeys Lamp Survey Project is being organised under the auspices of Frome Society for Local Study so as to restore many of the iconic lamps to their former glory and protect their future.   

At their height there were around 200 Cockey gas lamps around the town, which were converted to electricity during the early twentieth century, but now only around 70 of them survive, many of which are in urgent need of renovation.  

People who volunteer will be given instruction in historic surveying by team leaders, who themselves have been guided through the process by experts from Iron Art of Bath. 

Along with the expertise from Iron Art, the project is receiving funding and support from Frome Town Council and South West Heritage Trust. 

Mary Canale, project coordinator, said, “Cockeys Lamps are a unique legacy of a major name in Frome’s industrial history and this survey is the first step in preserving them for future generations.” 

As well as the survey and subsequent renovations, official recognition of their significance is also being sought. 

Mary adds, “We aim to initially get the lamps on the newly formed Local Heritage List managed by South West Heritage Trust and then with Historic England’s National Heritage List.” 

Initial training on structural surveying will take place towards the end of April and then each group, comprising of a team leader and five or six other volunteers, will between them survey 10 lamps. 

The surveys will be conducted to suit each group’s availability, although it is hoped that once started they will be completed within eight weeks. 

The Cockey family came to Frome from Warminster when Lewis Cockey Jnr., a bellfounder, moved to the town towards the end of the seventeenth century. 

He lived in Milk Street in what is now known as the ‘Bell House’ and eventually established a foundry opposite in what used to be Bell Lane, but was demolished during the 1960s. 

His son, William, carried on the tradition and more than 60 towers in Somerset and bordering counties still have Cockey inscriptions on their bells. One of their descendants, Edward Cockey, started his own firm in 1816 and as well as an iron-foundry, the family became pioneers in gas lighting, with Frome having street lighting through the company’s lamps as early as 1831. 

The company had premises in Palmer Street, but due to expansion they moved out to a site in the Garston area. 

A plaque to commemorate the firm’s time in Palmer Street, however, is being unveiled by Frome Society for Local Study at the end of this month. 

Mary concludes, “This project is about protecting the remaining lamps for the future and volunteers will have pride in knowing they are helping to preserve Frome’s past for its future.” 

If you would like to volunteer then please contact Mary Canale at mary. canale@icloud.com