Electricity Poles – The Telegraph Pole Appreciation Society

6 Jul 2025

Visiting old friends

posted in: Appreciating, Big Poles, Country poles, dropwires, Electricity Poles, New Poles |

And a new one.

There was a wasps’ nest in our local letterbox. So apologies to those folk who felt we’d dallied a little in getting your book and membership orders out to you. I know this sounds a little like “the dog ate my homework” kind of excuse, but truth was our postie refused to collect from it until some young lady exterminator from Aberystwyth had sorted things with a big stick. I did, at one point, poke my endoscope camera down there to see them sitting there. The parcels that is not the wasps – they were too busy asking me if I’d mind awfully going away. Anyway, wasps relocated now and the packages have been delivered.

In an effort to sort my work-life balance so that it weighs almost completely on the side of life, my feet have barely touched the ground this summer. Jollys here, trips away there, pub crawls everywhere. And whilst I was out and about I took the opportunity to visit a few old friends. I don’t have many friends so what I really mean is telegraph poles. And it’s arguably my relationship with telegraph poles that leads to me having no friends in the first place. And the damned “e” key is sticking again on this laptop. And the “a” key.

Little gallery below for you to peruse. You might recognise the first picture – it featured as January in our 2024 calendar. I go this way to walk into the wilderness beyond “Soar y Mynydd” chapel. I keep hoping to be handed some stone tablets with words of wisdom carved on to them whilst I’m up there but so far, nothing. Next up was my favourite, and arguably the world’s best “B” road – the B5105. The lovely little run of vintage poles between Ruthin and Clawddnewydd are largely still there. Some hiding in trees to avoid the poling gangs who would brutally yank them up and replace with a tarry vanilla job. Not unlike that which you see in the next picture. A brand new pole. 9 metre Medium pole preserved in 2025 and, according to the Openreach rule book nailed next to it, was planted just 3 weeks before my visit. This one is at the beautifully named Burlingjobb in Powys. Finally, more wilderness walks – high up into the Radnor Hills, over the delightful but windy “Whimble” and on up to Black Mixen. The Radnors seem to have a monopoly on great names for their hills. Anyway this power pole is the last of the run before the cable to Black Mixen telecom tower goes underground. So windy here it requires 5 stay wires (only 4 visible in this pic). This path, incidentally, borders the Harley Dingle explosive and ammunition testing ground which makes for some interesting flashes and bangs some days as they test out the very latest in Royal Mail Postbox Wasp clearing ordnance.

22 Sep 2023

Poles of the Oban Oblast

posted in: Big Poles, Country poles, Electricity Poles, Found Poles, Gorgeousness, Vintage |

Fresh back from a lengthy return trip for some R&R near Oban, Argyll. Interesting overnight on the way up at the delightfully eccentric Ecclefechan Hotel but did the return journey back to west Wales in one pergatorial go – just stayed in bed the next day to recover. Anyway, herewith a selection of the tall, wooden, sticky-uppy things with wires coming out of the top that I spotted within a small radius of our home for the week – Gallanach Castle (see last pic). Poles here also from nearby isles of Kerrera and Lismore. The two penultimate pictures showing how we subsisted despite having a castle kitchen at our disposal.

27 Jun 2023

Where the hell have I been?

posted in: Adornments, Appreciating, Big Poles, Country poles, Electricity Poles, Found Poles, Gorgeousness, Telegraph Poles |

It’s remiss of me, I know. It’s nearly July already and this is my first post in ages. As I am free between the hours of 2am and 5am each day, my wife thought I ought to take on some more part-time work to make ends meet (they don’t still). I resort now to sleeping on the job during lengthy toilet breaks. An “Out of Order” sign on the door helps here, I find. Consequently, things have slipped a little on this particular desk.

Anyway, I was going to do a Pole of the Month post but I’ve not seen any white smoke arising from the POTM selection college’s chimney so assume the committee have yet to come to a decision. So, in the interests of meanwhiledom, herewith a selection of recent photos, some contenders and some not.

First off, there’s these from Ian Stokes (#1134) who tells us that he can’t help feeling there’s no place for AI in Wales (see previous post) but there is one for AA and it’s on the A40 just west of Crug Hywel (Crickhowell). “A beautiful vision of two old friends”, he says, “untroubled by the passage of time and touchingly colour co-ordinated”. Ian used the salution “Hello Butty” in his covering letter. A quaintly south Wales term for friend or pal. Being a “gog” though, (a north Walian), I know Butty better as being a soggy sandwich, likely with shrimp paste, otherwise a pint of “Butty Bach” a fine ale from over the border into Hereford. But enough of that.

Power pole and AA call box on the A40 near Crickhowell

Danger sings on a power pole near Crickhowell

Next in my deep in-tray was this lovely specimen from the Isle of Mull taken by Roger Boulton. Roger was unaware of TPAS until today (a week or two ago). He took these whilst on holiday and said it was the combination of pole and scenery that made him stop. We’re glad you did Roger. The skidmarks are still there by the way.

A fine 3 armed pole beside a sea loch on Isle of Mull

A combination of telegraph pole and scenery on Isle of Mull, Scotland

This next pole is a contender for Pole of the Month (Whenever we get around to doing that again). Not because of any particularly fine aesthetics but mainly because the sender, Trebor Snobbig, asked us so nicely. This pole, is situated close to a not so tall sticky-up Trig Pillar (Grid Reference SJ4859 9086) in Rainhill, Merseyside. Trebor, whose name is probably an anagram, says he consulted all his friends about this pole’s selectability, but he has no friends so sent it anyway. Good luck Mr Snobbig, let’s see what the white smoke bringeth.

Power pole with barrel transformer. Don't know where.

Well that’s all for now folks. But rest assured, I’m going to start smoking soon so that I can take some cigarette breaks and use them to come and post some more photos.

11 Apr 2023

Soothsaying

posted in: Appreciating, Country poles, Electricity Poles, Foreign ones, Oddities, Photos, Telegraph Poles |

Not a lot of people know that I once stood as a Green Party candidate for a by-election in North Wales. I didn’t win. Nor did I come second. I don’t think third was what I was either. But I wasn’t last. And at the count the returning officer asked us all to say a few words to the gathered press and onlookers. This took me by surprise so I donned my soothsaying cloak of flabberghastion and defiantly declared that whilst they probably hadn’t voted for me today they would all be voting green one day. Talk about bold proclamation!

Anyway, it’s the soothsaying bit I’m trying to get to. I am in receipt of the photos you see below from two women correspondents. Both of whom move in high echelons. You know, meetings in boardrooms, with carafes of specially stilled water on oaken tables; white boards on the wall, minutes taken, the lot. If I had soothseen twenty years ago that one day they would be sending photos of telegraph poles to a strange man in Wales they would have laughed in my face.

And yet, here they are: Carter Wall, we have discussed before, is a mover and shaker in the supply of American energy. She is heavily into sustainable energy (me too in a saving-the-butt-ends-of-candles kind of way) and she lives at arguably the best address ever: Rattlesnake Gutter, Massachusetts. Carter was walking with her sister at Yarmouth Port on Cape Cod when they spotted the Heath Robinson splinted half-cocked pole replacement affair you see here. It was her sister, knowing of Carter’s history with this society, who suggested sending it to us. “Indeed, it’s an interesting conundrum for the pole-setter” she says, “a tight site with no room to set a new pole next to the old one as they usually do. Tough job.” Indeed.

Pippa, the sender of the other two pics is a former colleague of mine who must be surprised herself that not only does she remember me, but that she has developed herself an eye for poles. All the while supporting Tottenham Hotspur. You couldn’t make this stuff up. The dawn/dusk pole below is reminiscent of our very own February photo from the TPAS 2023 calendar. Now sold out, alas. Or should that be hooray? The second photo is taken through a train on St. Kitts. Alas, these last two came to me via social media and so suffered horribly from their compression algorithms. Without further ado, thank you Pippa and Carter:

A replacement power pole in a quiet leafy street in Yarmouth Port, Cape Cod that has been strapped to the original broken pole. — Many splintered thing – a daughter pole in Cape Cod. Exact coordinates available upon request.

A telegraph distibution pole against a reddening dusk sky. — St. Albans, taken yesterday in January 2020

View from a train window on St. Kitts of a road with a line of power poles alongside. — St. Albans, taken yesterday in January 2020

27 Feb 2023

From our Idaho correspondent

posted in: Big Poles, Country poles, Electricity Poles, Foreign ones, Oddities, Telegraph Poles |

Nathan Unruh is not going to believe me when I write this: Nathan, member #1050 first wrote to me with a photo of a totem pole thingy back in October last year. And then just two days ago I thought to myself “do you know what, you’ve not posted that Nathan Unruh’s photo yet. He’s going to think you’re a miserable git who doesn’t answer emails.” Which is only partially true – I am often miserable, and I don’t always answer emails, but I am not 100% a git*¹. Anyway lo and behold just one day after thinking about Nathan, a further email arrives not at all calling me a miserable git. In fact, this one contained another photo of a power pole in Washington (USA, top left) but with dramatically fewer words. So clearly Nathan was already suspicious that emails to telegraphpoleappreciationsociety.org were falling off the end of a wire somewhere and so was saving his fingertip effort and keyboard wear and tear. But they got through Nathan, they got through.

So photo #1 has an impressive power pole with happy buzzing transformer photo-bombed by a totem pole (tall, wooden etc. but no wires coming out the top) with all footballer’s heads on it. We could get into my feelings about Shrewsbury Town FC players’ heads being stuck on a pole/spike here but that’s for a different website. Anyway, this totem pole is called The Old Codger. And it’s in Colfax, Washington (USA, top left).

The second photo, received only the other day is of a versatile mid-country pole in Rosalia, Washington (USA, still top left). So there we have it. Emails to TPAS don’t necessarily disappear into the ether and you should never lose hope

My final point here is why Idaho correspondent when these two photos are from Washington (USA, top left)?Well, Nathan’s address is in Potlatch, Idaho. and surely, like all distances in the USA measured in light years from Washington? But now that I’ve had a look at Google Maps I can see it’s almost right next door. Blimey! I also did a bit of zooming around Nathan’s area on StreetView. And I’d just like to add, at this point, wow !

*¹ The true figure is about 93.7% git

23 Dec 2022

Most Northerly Pole in Mainland Britain

posted in: Appreciating, Big Poles, Electricity Poles, Found Poles, Markings, Photos |

I was getting worried. It’s been so long since I posted on here that I wondered if something might have happened; maybe I’d “moved upstairs” or something. But given the lack of sympathy cards on our mantlepiece and that Mrs. TPAS seems to be cheerfully going about her business I’m probably not meeting my maker and so nothing for it but to get on here and catch up with some emailic inboxing.

Regular visitors to these sage pages will know that we are frequent visitors to the far north (and west). You only have to look at our outstanding 2023 calendar to know that (a handful left for £9.99). Now, I’ve been past it on my way to Orkney several times, but never quite got around to visiting Dunnet Head in Caithness. Turns out I didn’t need to as Jim Irving, who, I think, might be from Glasgow, has been there for us. His penchant, however, is for lighthouses – which whilst being tall and sticky-uppy are only 50% of the way to being tall, wooden, sticky-uppy with wires coming out the top. Anyway Jim got to service both fetishes*¹ with this visit.

He travelled north with his colleague and current wife who pretended to be asleep the whole journey to avoid the nerdic conversation emanating from the vehicle’s male occupants. Apparently, their excessive enthusiasm for the poles began to scare all concerned by the time they had finished taking the photos you see below.

Anyway, for clarity’s sake, the pole with “yours truly”*² in it and with the lighthouse and buildings directly behind is THE most northerly pole.

For more clarity, yes, we know these are power distribution poles rather than telegraph poles per se and we refer to paragraph #2 above which contains a mashed-up version of our society mantra.

Jim says he might be back for a TPAS Mug for his mate at some point. Well if even further clarity is required, he hasn’t yet done so – our order clerks are on standby. And we have a few calendars left too. Have I said that already?

*¹ Need to find a better word than this
*² I always thought “yours truly” was me. Turns out it’s Jim Irving.

31 Aug 2022

Northumberland

posted in: Country poles, Electricity Poles, Gorgeousness, Photos |

We’re indebted to Simon Rushton for sending us the photos you see here. Simon is a fellow enthusiast and appreciator of interesting man-made shapes in the landscape. He tells us: “…Old electrical overhead equipment, Green Rigg towards Lesbury Northumberland. No idea what it is except the poles have the label Cobra 1972 and a Newcastle upon Tyne electrical company enamel sign part way up the pole.”

“Love the side saddle ‘3 on the side’ x2 corner pole insulators as they look like the giant Hollyhocks currently outside our kitchen window.“

Now, I know they’re power poles but if you’ve been following this society’s sage wisdom as long as I’ve been writing it, you’ll know that we don’t differentiate between power & telegraph poles. For the avoidance of doubt our mantra is and always will be: “If it’s tall, wooden, sticky-uppy, and got wires coming out of the top then we appreciate it” And these poles are just gorgeous. Thanks Simon.

A power pole at Green Rigg towards Lesbury Northumberland

Side view of A power pole at Green Rigg towards Lesbury Northumberland

27 Jun 2022

A Road Trip to 612Khz Medium Wave

posted in: Appreciating, Country poles, Electricity Poles, Foreign ones, Found Poles, Photos, Slideshow, Telegraph Poles |

VIntage radio dial showing Athlone radio station

I have a lifelong fascination with radio. You know: vintage stuff, crystal sets, valves, aerials strung like washing lines and all that. And romantic sounding radio stations. Earlier this month Mrs TPAS and I took a different route home from visiting dislocated family in the top left hand corner of Ireland and drove all the way down the west coast, cutting across the middle to catch our ferry from Rosslare back to Fishguard. I ensured that our journey took in the town of Athlone smack bang in the middle of Ireland and at the extreme right hand edge of the MW dial on my old Roberts R500. Athlone the town has much going for it but alas Athlone 612Khz no longer transmits. Those of a nerdic disposition may like to check out the Radio Telefis Eireann 100kw broadcasting equipment page I found in the silt at the bottom of the internet.

Meanwhile sit back and enjoy the rest of our telegraphic journey south and eastwards, Rosslare bound.

Next year we plan to visit Hilversum I and also try to take in Hilversum II (which must surely be nearby).

7 Dec 2021

The GOOD, the NOT BAD & the WHAT FRESH HELL IS THIS?

posted in: Electricity Poles, Gorgeousness, GPO, Metal Poles, Photos, Telegraph Poles, Villainous behaviour |

TPAS staff retired the short distance to the seaside this week. Overdue R&R away from the rubble and brick dust that permeates our regular inland HQ. Newport (Trefdraeth) sits aside the mouth of the River Nevern (Afon Nyfer) in Pembrokeshire and is as charmingly gentrified as you can get in Wales. Think Kensington-on-Sea. The busily compact commercial centre is the ideal place to stock up on cinnamon candles, scented snowmen and gift-wrapped logs. And for the traditional gasp of “how much?” try ordering a pint and a small glass of house red in one of the hostelries.

Don’t get me started on the grand replacement of local populace by wealthy incomers, the high pampered dog to human ratio or the almost complete erosion of the Welsh language in the area. I said don’t get me started ! Think Cornwall and the Lake District but yn Cymraeg.

Anyway, not one to waste time not looking at telegraph poles here are my findings, pre-sorted, for your convenience into appropriate categories. Decide for yourself which is which.

Nice little DP - see closeup of the gubbins. — Note to self: get a better camera.

Business end of a DP in Newport. Ring and 4 screwtop insulators — Note to self: get a better camera.

31 Oct 2021

An Answer On a Postcard

posted in: Country poles, Electricity Poles, Hardware, Oddities |

Readers with a functioning memory will, of course, remember this story we ran 9 years ago: answers-on-a-postcard-please. To save you clicking and looking, I asked what the hell is this little salt pot thing I saw hanging beneath a power pole in a remote valley in mid Wales.

Well thanks be to Chris Morris from Newtown who was also wondering what these are and so took a pair of binoculars to find out. Turns out, they are Fault Passage Indicators. According to Chris they are completely wireless and detect faults by analysing the phase currents and their imbalance, by analysing the electromagnetic field(s).

For the really curious out there they are made by a company called Bowdens whose registered address is Spook Hill (I write this on Halloween – you couldn’t make this up).

This from their online catalogue of hard-core nerdy gadgets. I couldn’t find an “add to basket” button otherwise I’d have bought one and turned into a mug.