The famous Valentine Gas Lamp in Frome is one of the town’s most romantic landmarks – set around heart-shaped cobblestones with a ‘love seat’ nearby under the glow of the gas lamp, looking down the historic cobbled street of Catherine Hill.
The annual Valentine Gas Lamp Lighting Ceremony has been celebrated for the past 22 years and, this year, the event promises something different – a unique ‘twist’ to the ceremony – devised by Reg Ling, the lamp’s renovator.
Reg, on behalf of Friends of the Valentine Gas Lamp said, “Please join us to celebrate Valentine’s night on Saturday 14th February. Bring your romantic Valentine lanterns, decorated however you wish. There will be prizes for the best childrens’ and adults’ lanterns.
“Come rain or shine, at 5.30pm a firework will be let off summoning lantern-goers to the site in Catherine Hill. A crowd will gather to await the arrival of the lamplighter dressed in period costume. He will be carrying a traditional lamplighter’s pole and will conduct the lighting ceremony which starts at 6.00pm. There will be mulled wine for adults and fresh fruit for the children.
“Painstaking restoration work on the Valentine Gas Lamp still continues and donations to the project are warmly welcomed – please find details at
www.valentinegaslamp.org. We are relying on voluntary contributions to complete the restoration.
“We look forward to seeing you there!”