Description

ALLSOP PLACE AND BAKER STREET
TQ 2782 SE
JUNCTION
34/101 Drinking Fountain
II
Drinking fountain. Late C19, cleaned and restored c1989. Inscribed "Presented by
the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association". Polished pink
granite. Design resembling a baptismal font having circular pedestal with arched
niche at base accommodating rectangular dog basin, circular basin with moulded band
and centralurn with spouts. The most complete surviving example in Central London
of the Association's standard late C19 design. Founded in 1859 the Metropolitan
Free Drinking Fountain Association (Cattle Trough added 1867) provided free fresh
water to many humans and beasts at a time when ale and spirits were easier to obtain
than water and most supplies contaminated. The Christian association of water with
purity of spirit led evangelical -Victorians to become patrons of the Association
which provided a catalogue of functional designs although some wealthy patrons used
their own.

Listing NGR: TQ2787382175

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26540803

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)