DRASTIC LIGHTING ORDER - Jan 1, 1916

A surprise will be sprung upon Northampton by the drastic terms of the new lighting restrictions imposed

upon the town by order of the naval and military authorities.  These orders will come into force on

January 10.  Every local householder is affected, for the Order definitely states that in "in dwelling houses

inside lights, back and front, must be so shaded or reduced, or the windows, skylights, and glass doors so

screened by shutters or dark blinds and curtains, etc., that no more than a dull subdued light is visible

from any direction outside."  This means that any windows with white casement curtains, must, if the

room is used at night, be fitted with opaque blinds.  The same restriction has been in force at the seaside

for many months.  What a boom in dark blinds must now ensue, for nearly all the household blinds of Northampton

are of a light colour and will have to be replaced with dark ones.  The order also applies to all places of worship

and entertainment, shops and factories, except those engaged in war work, and in those cases they must have

telephones and watchmen ever ready to extinguish lights immediately they receive an order from the police.

Additional restrictions are also imposed on the lighting of vehicles.  In future they must carry lights half an hour

earlier at night and half an hour later in the morning.  The use of headlights on cars is entirely prohibited.

Handcarts must in future have lamps and even perambulators must not be wheeled on the roadway without one.