The 6 Sewer Gas Lamps race is a circular, orienteering-style urban running race starting from the Hammer & Pincers pub (Sheffield) and visiting 6 Sewer Gas Lamps around the South & West of Sheffield. The start and finish point is fixed, but there is no set route.

The aim of the race is to see how fast you can visit all 6 sewer gas lamps and get back to the start.

The run is normally in the region of about 10.5 miles / 17 km with around 400m overall ascent

Due to the nature of this run, there is a lot of scope for creativity with routes – do you try to reduce the overall ascent, the overall distance, or simple go for the easiest route?

Click here to view the Hall of Fame

Completed the 6 Gas Lamps Race? Submit your time

Send a link to your Strava run to chris@runtimes.co.uk

Rules

1. You must start and finish in the car park of the Hammer & Pincers pub
2. You must visit all six sewer gas lamps in any order and in one run
3. You can do this run on any day and at any time
4. The run must be done completely on foot – e.g. no bikes, taxis, roller skates, or busses
5. you can attempt the run and enter as many times as you like
6. To submit your run, use the form at the bottom of the page. Please include:
   • Submit your name / date of run / time taken / total distance in KM / link to your run on Strava

The 6 Gas Lamps Race – Hall of Fame

Name	Date	Overall time	Distance (km)	Total climb (m)	Route
Mark Jacobi	5/12/23	1:24:34	16.41	384	https://www.strava.com/activities/10334061143
Ben West	5/12/23	1:30:08	16.89	400	https://www.strava.com/activities/10334075734
Chris Deeble-Rogers	5/12/23	1:32:21	17.67	414	https://www.strava.com/activities/10334075622
Chris Day	5/12/23	1:27:42	16.79	394	https://www.strava.com/activities/10334059328
Richard Watts	8/11/22	1:15:51	15.59	405	https://www.strava.com/activities/8088901812
Peter Harris	8/11/22	1:53:41	19.95	478	https://www.strava.com/activities/8088844234
Paul Grayson	8/11/22	1:34:43	17.65	431	https://www.strava.com/activities/8088912858
Chris Day	8/11/22	1:45:04	17.58	410	https://www.strava.com/activities/8089104615
Clare Howarth	19/2/19	1:39:24	17.52	410	https://www.strava.com/activities/2161068787
Chris Day	19/2/19	1:39:24	17.52	423	https://www.strava.com/activities/2161068787

About the Sewer Gas Destructor Lantern

The introduction of the new sewers in the 1800s created a new problem – methane gas build-up. Lighter than air, methane would accumulate in sewers, posing a serious explosion hazard. This issue was particularly acute in hilly areas where the gas could rise to the highest points and become trapped

To address this new danger, Joseph Edmund Webb patented the Sewer Gas Destructor Lantern in 1894. His new lamps used a small gas flame safely burn off the accumulated gas. It was the perfect solution! Not only would the gas be destroyed, but it would also do so without the well-known smell, and at the same time, illuminate the streets.

These new gas lamps were particularly well suited to Sheffield with its hill. Today, its said the city still boasts 25 Sewer Gas Destructor Lamps, 20 of which are grade II listed.

At the time of writing, thanks to council cuts and the contractor Amey, none of the lamps appear to be working any more. However, the Gas Lamp race is based on visiting some of the last working lamps

Here is the text of an article about Sewer Gas Destructor Lamps from the BBC in 2017

Sheffield’s sewer gas lamps get new lease of life. Published 27th March 2017

Twenty of Sheffield’s sewer gas lamps have been Grade II listed by Historic England. Gas street lamps originally invented to burn off dangerous sewer gas are being restored in Sheffield. JE Webb’s cast iron Sewer Gas Destructor Lamps were designed to burn methane and other stagnant gases which regularly accumulated in urban Victorian sewers. They were erected all around the country between 1914 and 1935.

Sheffield once had more than 80 of the lamps and now has 25, 20 of which are Grade II listed. Residents began campaigning for the lamps to be restored when the city council’s replacement of every lamppost began, as part of the 25-year Streets Ahead road improvement programme.

JE Webb of Birmingham invented the Sewage Gas Destructor Lamps for places which had pockets of gas, often at the top of hills. Burning mantles created intense 700F heat in the lamp-hood, drawing up sewer gases. As the gases passed through the lamp into the air, smells and bacteria were destroyed by the heat. Sheffield has four gas-powered lamps, which will remain so after their restoration

Some lamps, now more than 100 years old, have been vandalised or have lost parts over time, and will get new lanterns and arms. They will be repainted and powered by solar power LED lights to replicate the original lighting. The work is due to be finished by December.

Councillor Bryan Lodge said: “The lamps provide a nostalgic reminder of days gone by and remain lasting landmarks of Sheffield’s celebrated heritage.”

Link to the full article (last accessed 20/9/24)