The beginnings of electric street lighting in the City of London

From the time of the first experimental arc lamps on Holborn Viaduct in 1878 to the first permanent electric street lamps in 1891, the denizens of the City of London were subjected to many forms of lighting in which, at one time, electricity played no part and the Viaduct itself reverted to gas lamps on one side and oil on the other. Amongst the many proposals for electric lighting was one from the London Electric Supply Corporation which was acceptable to the City Corporation but on terms that were rejected by the directors, whose decision in 1889 was a major factor in the nonfulfilment of Ferranti´s plans for Deptford power station