St Helen's Square Benches & Lanterns

In partnership with the York Business Improvement District, the City Enhancement Programme replaced the four quadrangle benches and planters in St Helen’s Square, York city centre, following years of disrepair and damage.

The benches were installed in advance of York’s Christmas light switch on in November 2017.

A completed bench and planter on St Helen’s Square, York.

The project also involved the repair of damaged and disused lanterns, which were repaired and restored in December 2017. The lamps were manufactured by AVIL – Anti Vibrating Incandescent Lighting. AVIL was taken over and renamed Foster & Pullen in the 1920s and the Braford based firm was a major manufacturer of street gas lamps across England.

Restored AVIL lanterns in the workshop prior to fitting.

The works were managed by Nick Beilby of the York Civic Trust and involved local firms Len Plows & Son, Dave Barnes and Kevin Spencer.