I was told last night about the history of early gaslight in London.   First used for domestic lighting by William Murdoch in Cornwall in 1792, it was used to celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Wales in 1807.   The Prince then became the patron of gaslight.   In 1812, the Gas-Light and Coke Company was established to provide gas lighting throughout the city and a year later Westminster Bridge was lit by gas.   The availability of gas lighting then accelerated the industrial revolution because it made it possible to work longer hours.   I hadn’t realised that it’s gas which lights the path through St. James’s Park at night.

This is a picture of one of the gaslights in St. James’s Park:

And alongside Green Park: