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Lock down has provided time to investigate those forgotten jobs. My boot light has never worked since I've had the car - 1971 series 1.
There is a 12V supply to the bulb holder but not at the contact inside with the holder. Discovered an in line item in the bulb holder which is a perspex cylinder with contacts at either end and what appears to be a metal cylinder embedded in the perplex - see image. What is it ? A thermal switch? Or I see another post on this forum describing a mercury switch fitted to a series 2 ? Anyway it reads open circuit and I can't see any mention of it in the workshop manual. Any suggestions and source of replacement item appreciated.

Hi blue2,
Found this info about your switch on the Jag-Lovers Forum.
Might help a bit,here's the link:
https://forums.jag-lovers.com/t/xj-boot-light/179746
Happy tinkering and stay safe.
Andy

The mercury tilt switches in early XJs were always a pain and rarely worked for long. As long as originality isn't an issue, a more modern microswitch (as in series 3s) is a more reliable solution. Mike.

Thanks for the responses. According to the Jaglover site it may not be a mercury switch and could be a ball switch.
As a sealed unit not easy to tell which though when I replace it will I be able to resist further investigation ? - probably not a good idea if it is mercury!
At least the MOT tester missed this item when I presented the car last Saturday - it passed with only one advisory - use it more as last years mileage was only 88 miles !

I had my S1 for 20 years, and the boot light never worked. Then one day opened the boot when the headlights were on, and the boot light worked! On my car, it only worked when the lights were on
Rob

Series 1 cars were wired via the lights. Series 2 cars had a permanent feed so the boot lamp works (switch permitting!) whenever the boot is opened. Mike.