Faraday Monument Blue Peter Lighting Scheme

A nation-wide competition for improving a public space launched by Blue Peter in 1996. The award-winning entry was the submission of a schoolgirl from English Martyr R.C. Primary School, Walworth, to adorn the Michael Faraday Memorial at the centre of Elephant Roundabout with coloured lights.

A lighting scheme was installed to illuminate the four-faces of the concave stainless steel panels which make up the facade of the monument, which clads the servicing for the Bakerloo Line.

The Grade II listing of the memorial coincided with the lighting upfit in June 1996. Following the major upgrade works to the gyratory system and public realm of Elephant and Castle Roundabout from 2014, the lights have been re-fitted and are now modified to white-light uplighting.

The Michael Faraday Memorial was designed by architect Rodney Gordon and crafted by Henry Grant, 1959-61. The memorial gained Grade II listing in. The memorial is named after the scientist Michael Faraday (1791-1867) for his contribution to the advancement in understanding of electricity, who was born in nearby Newington Butts.