The South Bank clock with two quiet guardians

Gary’s obsession with notable light fittings – No. 7

I was strolling along the South Bank when this cracking 1930s-style clock caught my eye, all octagonal charm and Roman numerals. But what really stopped me were the two brackets flanking it. Not just decoration at all, but purpose-made lamps designed to wash the clock face with light. Three architectural statement pieces hiding in plain sight.

There’s something wonderfully intentional about it: the clock, bold and confident, and on either side these sculpted brackets holding matching lamps, all working together as one composition. You can almost imagine the original designer sketching the trio out, symmetry, balance, and a bit of quiet theatre once dusk settles in.

The fittings themselves are small but full of character, shaped to echo the clock’s geometry and throw light just where it’s needed. It’s the sort of integrated thinking we don’t always see today, yet it transforms a simple timepiece into a proper streetscape moment. Most people pass without a glance… but look up, and London rewards you.

And that’s the joy of good lighting: when structure, purpose, and beauty align, even a practical object becomes part of the city’s story.

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