A LAMP in the city, erected to commemorate the life of General Gordon, is to be renovated, thanks to Exeter Civic Society.
Several weeks ago the society announced that it had £1,000 to donate to special projects and appealed for the public, through the Echo, to come up with suggestions.
Of the suggestions put forward the society is to concentrate its efforts on the Gordon Lamp which stands on the junction of Fore Street and Magdalen Road.
It was erected in memory of Charles George Gordon, who was killed in the siege of Khartoum on January 26, 1885, by his friend the then vicar of Heavitree, Preb ReginaldBarnes.
The suggestion regarding the lamp came from Michael Pentreath, a retired local historian, who said: "I recently noticed the lamp when I cycled into Exeter.
"If you go in by car it is very difficult to see because you are concentrating on traffic and it is a bit lost among the traffic lights.
"I thought it would be a good idea to highlight the name on the base in a different colour and to paint the lamppost.
Mr Pentreath is currently doing research on Gen Redvers Buller, who was the chief of staff of the expedition which was sent to rescue Gordon in Sudan and which got there two days too late.
Keith Lewis, chairman of Exeter Civic Society, said: "A total of three suggestions were put forward.
"One was for the restoration of the Phoenix statue in Princesshay but the manager of Princesshay has told me that that is on their to do list.
"We are intending to make a small contribution to the second proposal from the Mint Methodist Church for an information board to celebrate John Wesley's visits to Exeter.
"However it seems that the church still has some way to go before this can come to fruition.
"The Gordon lamp is in a sorry condition, and currently obscured by a highway control box, and painted black it does not stand out.
"Its inscription which faces the road cannot be easily read."
The society has been given the go-ahead to take steps to re-light the lamp and repaint it and will work with both city and county councils to see the lamp restored to its former glory. "
