A distinctive pedestal lamp made from a single piece of basalt was discovered during excavations in Bermondsey Square. This lamp features a deep funnel-shaped opening at the top, which narrows into a circular depression, probably as a reservoir for oil or tallow with a flax wick. It could have served as a stand for another pottery lamp or even as a candlestick. The lamp is incised with decorative bands around its circumference, and surface pecking may have aided in its grip or transport. Alternatively, it might have been suspended from chains.
This lamp is highly unusual, lacking direct parallels, making it challenging to determine its precise age. Early stone lamps were typically cresset lamps, simple bowls for oil with floating wicks. Similar lamps have been found at sites like Hartlepool and Eynsham Abbey, all made from local limestone. Late Saxon lamps came in both block and pedestal forms, serving as stands for ceramic lamps in places like Winchester. A similar pedestal lamp from York shares similarities in size but differs in design. Another example from Flixborough suggests these lamps might have been suspended or placed on brackets.
The rarity of pedestal lamps and the use of non-local stone suggest a special function, possibly in ecclesiastical or high-status buildings. The use of non-local stone became more common in later medieval ecclesiastical architecture, aligning with the construction of cathedrals and churches.
While basalt is unsuitable for construction, the Bermondsey lamp resembles some Norwegian basalts, hinting at a possible Scandinavian import. The lamp’s style differs significantly from later medieval pedestal lamps, which were commonly associated with ecclesiastical sites and often reused architectural elements.
Given its uniqueness and lack of parallels, the Bermondsey basalt lamp is likely from the mid- or late Saxon period, possibly used in a late Saxon church or mid-Saxon minster. Middle Saxon London has few known stone lamps, mostly block-shaped, with one example featuring an interlace pattern.
