Progress Images

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  Former Location and References

  The St Lawrence Jewry fountain was located just to the west of the Guildhall Yard, and south of the Guildhall itself, in the City of London.

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  The Design

  A description of the fountain published in The Builder, 16 June 1866, describes the memorial as in ‘the Pointed style or architecture which prevailed in Italy during the fourteenth century’.

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  The Iconography

  The water fountain of the monument was designed as sculpture that actively pumps water into a dish, when a metal knob was pushed. The scene is of Moses striking the rock at Horeb (Exodus. XVII. IV-VI).

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  Public water fountains in London

  The Metropolitan Water Act of 1852, imposing sanitary legislation upon water companies. Intakes from the Thames were relocated to Teddington in the western suburbs and filtration systems installed, leading to a dramatic improvement in the quality of drinking water.

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  The redevelopment of the Guildhall Square

  Sir Giles Scott was asked to first prepare a scheme for the redevelopment of the Guildhall area as early as 1934. The City sought to expand its offices and build a new art gallery and museum, whilst removing the clutter of later buildings that surrounding the medieval hall.

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  Architects and Sculptors

  John Robinson is a relatively unknown Victorian architect who, based in London, designed mainly small buildings, residences and shop fronts and interiors. He was born in 1829 in Chiswick.

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  Assessment of Significance

  The St Lawrence fountain was, in its former place, an unlisted structure.
  It has substantial significance to the City as a reminder of a parish supporting the locality and its poorer citizens, as well as the City’s past as a residential area.