The History of Street Lighting

In medieval cities, householders were required to position a lantern outside their 1 during the winter months. Pedestrians who travelled after dark could employ link-boys to guide them, although some worked alongside 2 to rob unsuspecting travellers. In the eighteenth century, street lamps were improved through the addition of metal 3, which doubled the light reaching the pavement. The nineteenth century saw the introduction of gas street lighting, which was operated by a worker known as a 4. Although popular, gas lighting generated a foul 5 from pipe leaks. Later in the century, electric arc lamps were introduced in large areas, but their harsh 6 made them unsuitable for residential roads. The rollout of incandescent bulbs allowed networks to be managed using central 7, eliminating manual work. Today, concerns about street lighting focus on the dangers it presents to migrating 8 in urban environments.