Seaside town fights back against 'sacrilegious' decision to swap historic lantern with 'bit of tat'

Marcus Donaldson
Sat, 04 Apr 2026 08:00:09 +0000

Residents of Torpoint have reacted with fury to Cornwall Council's proposal to switch a historic lantern atop a listed monument for a modern LED replacement.

The plan has provoked such strong emotions in the Cornish town that locals have branded it "outrageous" and "sacrilegious".

One resident declared: "You can't replace history with a bit of tat from B&Q."

The Three Lighter Lantern, which sits in Elliot Square, was presented to the town by the prominent Carew Pole family following the Boer War.

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Cornwall Council intends to install an “Acrospire Muirfield” lantern as part of its county-wide LED upgrade programme, claiming the existing fixture has become obsolete and can no longer be maintained.

The authority's planning portal has received 31 objections to the scheme.

Sir Reginald Pole Carew, a member of the area's landed gentry, donated the lantern to Torpoint as a thanksgiving gesture upon his return from the Boer War.

The fixture was initially positioned in Sparrow Park before being relocated to Elliot Square following the construction of the Ellis Memorial in 1898 and the widening of Antony Road.

In its planning application, the council stated that the current lantern "required replacement as the existing lantern is obsolete and we are no longer able to maintain it".

Officials have argued the new fixture would deliver improved illumination whilst maintaining a heritage aesthetic, insisting they are "not replacing a heritage style lantern with a standard style lantern".

However, Cornwall Council's historic environment planning officer has noted that the current lamp is not original and has been changed previously, concluding that replacement is therefore acceptable.

Tremayne Carew Pole, who resides at Antony House and is a descendant of Sir Reginald, has lodged a formal objection to the scheme.

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He said: "My objection is rooted in the principle that the listed structure is a historic monument of artistic and architectural merit, and that any replacement component must preserve - not merely approximate - the character and authenticity that give it that designation."

The resident argued that a lantern selected primarily for its LED capabilities and compliance with highway standards "prioritises function over significance".

Barry Mumford described the proposal as "outrageous," noting that the lamp has illuminated the war memorial bearing the names of Torpoint residents who made the ultimate sacrifice, and called the removal "tantamount to being sacrilegious".

Malcolm Bassett-Smith urged: "You can't replace history with a bit of tat from B&Q (or similar) and once history is gone it is gone forever."

Mr Bassett-Smith revealed that members of the local community have offered to cover the costs of restoring the existing lantern and ensuring its long-term preservation.

He told Cornwall Live: "I would urge Cornwall Council to accept this offer and allow the people of Torpoint to care for this most loved part of its heritage."

Torpoint Town Council has lodged a "strong" objection to the application, stating that the "poor quality and appearance of the proposed replacement lamp is not in keeping with a historical asset".

The local authority has requested that the council consider the cost of refurbishing the current fixture instead.

A petition opposing the replacement is currently being collected at the Torpoint Archives & Heritage Centre, located in the town's library.