The Gobbin Lamp

Bee · 25-09-2011, 18:57

The Gobbin Lamp is to be restored

;
Oswaldtwistle's Gobbin Lamp set to shine again (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Neil · 25-09-2011, 19:19

The lamp sits in LCC land at the library.
There was a proposal a few years ago to move it across the road to Jubilee Gardens which is HBC land.

That was a very interesting Area Council meeting, one of the best I have attended

Tealeaf · 25-09-2011, 19:32

I'll give it two weeks before its nicked for scrap.

MargaretR · 25-09-2011, 21:42

In my 1940s childhood there wasn't a lamp there, although the phrase 'above t'lamp' was in use.
I was glad to see that the news article makes this clear
"The original lamp, a gas lamp, was removed many years ago and a campaign for its return saw two lamps, based on the original style, installed in the early 1970s, although only one of those now remains. "
It may well have been melted down for war munitions, just as house garden railings were.

jaysay · 26-09-2011, 08:44

I'm not sure where abouts I live now above or below the lamp, I've a feeling that MargaretR and Mez might be just below and I must be just above

Bob Dobson · 26-09-2011, 09:11

Jaysay - if you have to ask that question, then clearly you are a gobbin and, in my humble opinion, a Gobbin.

I am told that there are no photos of the original 'big lamp' , so if you know of one, I will arrange for it to be copied and made available.

The position of the big lamp is a source of embarrassment to me, as I wrote a book in the 70s in which I said that it was situated outside the Palladium. I had sought the opinion of Benita Moore before penning it. Luckily, the book went into a second edition and I was able to put the record straight. 'Big lamps' figure in the folk-lore of several Lancashire towns, marking the line or position above or below which a resident is a gobbin or similar word meaning a person of little intelligence.

jaysay · 26-09-2011, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

Jaysay - if you have to ask that question, then clearly you are a gobbin and, in my humble opinion, a Gobbin.

I am told that there are no photos of the original 'big lamp' , so if you know of one, I will arrange for it to be copied and made available.

The position of the big lamp is a source of embarrassment to me, as I wrote a book in the 70s in which I said that it was situated outside the Palladium. I had sought the opinion of Benita Moore before penning it. Luckily, the book went into a second edition and I was able to put the record straight. 'Big lamps' figure in the folk-lore of several Lancashire towns, marking the line or position above or below which a resident is a gobbin or similar word meaning a person of little intelligence.

Think you got me wrong Bob, Where I live I think must be just above the place the lamp was situated, but I'm not 100% sure, I can't see through houses, but by my reckoning I'm on the boarder line, I was born bellow the Lamp by the way, a long way bellow

Bee · 26-09-2011, 15:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

The lamp sits in LCC land at the library.
There was a proposal a few years ago to move it across the road to Jubilee Gardens which is HBC land.

That was a very interesting Area Council meeting, one of the best I have attended

Here's the "move the lamp" thread;
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...amp-12391.html

Wynonie Harris · 26-09-2011, 16:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

I was born bellow the Lamp by the way, a long way bellow

and about four miles west!

jaysay · 26-09-2011, 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

and about four miles west!

If I've told you once I've told you a million times don't exaggerate

Wynonie Harris · 26-09-2011, 18:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

If I've told you once I've told you a million times don't exaggerate

You were the one who told me your were born in Blackburn when I was on one of my "support your local football club" rants!

jaysay · 26-09-2011, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

You were the one who told me your were born in Blackburn when I was on one of my "support your local football club" rants!

Ya thats right but was brought up from being about 5 days old bellow the lamp in Ossy, but those 5 early days were enough to make me a life long Rover

Wynonie Harris · 26-09-2011, 18:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

Ya thats right but was brought up from being about 5 days old bellow the lamp in Ossy, but those 5 early days were enough to make me a life long Rover

Yes, well, I have given you special dispensation, so carry on with my blessing.

Tealeaf · 26-09-2011, 20:04

What exactly is meant by this phrase 'below the lamp'? The library stands on that part of Union road which roughly runs in an East-West direction. So is anyone north of the line where the lamp stands a Gobbiner/Gobbinlander? Or is it the other way round? Or is it something to do with it's position just by Union Rd, in which case it's totally meaningless - which is something to be expected from anyone from Ossy.

MargaretR · 26-09-2011, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

What exactly is meant by this phrase 'below the lamp'? The library stands on that part of Union road which roughly runs in an East-West direction. So is anyone north of the line where the lamp stands a Gobbiner/Gobbinlander? Or is it the other way round? Or is it something to do with it's position just by Union Rd, in which case it's totally meaningless - which is something to be expected from anyone from Ossy.

The land is lower - think Tinker Brew.
Are you one of those people who thinks a trip to Scotland is all uphill?