London’s 1897 Pluto Lamps Served Hot Drinks and Cigarettes From Streetlights
The Pluto Lamp made its first appearance at the Victorian Era Exhibition in 1897, coinciding with Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. This innovative streetlight offered hot beverages for just over a ha’penny, allowing patrons to enjoy coffee, cocoa, milk, tea, or “fluid beef.” The exhibition also showcased a vast panorama of ancient Rome, Pepper’s ghost illusions, and more than 1,200 artworks, featuring renowned artists like J. M. W. Turner and John Constable. Although Pluto Lamps were placed in various locations throughout London, such as Clerkenwell and Leicester Square, they encountered problems with coin fraud and costly upkeep, leading to their removal by the century's end. Lukas Neckermann observes that contemporary lampposts are now multifunctional, echoing the idea of versatile street furniture.
Key facts
- The Pluto Lamp debuted at the Victorian Era Exhibition in 1897, marking Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee
- Drinks cost slightly more than a ha’penny and included coffee, cocoa, milk, tea, and “fluid beef”
- The exhibition displayed over 1,200 artworks, including works by J. M. W. Turner, John Constable, and 180 selected female artists
- Pluto Lamps were installed at Exmouth Street in Clerkenwell, Leicester Square, and Rosebery Avenue
- Some lamps sold postcards and four-to-the-penny cigarettes alongside drinks
- Tin discs were used in place of genuine coins, and maintenance costs ran unexpectedly high
- All Pluto Lamps were decommissioned before the end of the nineteenth century
- The Clerkenwell lamp had a telegraph recorder connected to Scotland Yard
Entities
Artists
- J. M. W. Turner
- John Constable
- Queen Victoria
- Lukas Neckermann
- Colin Marshall
Institutions
- Victorian Era Exhibition
- Scotland Yard
- Open Culture
- MessyNessy
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Clerkenwell
- Exmouth Street
- Leicester Square
- Rosebery Avenue
- Rome
- Italy
- Seoul
- South Korea