Museums

This single pendant style gas ceiling lamp originally came from a shop in Long Cotton, Northampton.

Gas lighting allowed the production of artificial light from the combustion of a gaseous fuel. The light was produced either directly by the flame, generally by using special mixes of illuminating gas to increase brightness, or indirectly with other components such as the gas mantle or the limelight. Early gas lights were ignited manually, but many later designs were self-igniting.

Before electricity became widespread and economical, gas was the most popular method of outdoor and indoor lighting in cities and was used to illuminate homes, shops, theatres, factories and streets.