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The fountain is mounted on an architectural pedestal surrounded by two figures in bronze. Both are heavily draped, with a young woman standing over an elderly man. The woman holds out a pitcher in her left hand, and the old man holds a drinking bowl to his mouth with his right hand and a crutch in his left. This is a representation of 'Thirst'. The pedestal which the fountain is on has a tapering cylindrical shaft with moulding that sweeps out beneath the drinking bowls. Each side of the plinth is equipped with a lion-head spout that became purely decorative in 1935 after jets were installed. The fountain is currently not working, and the bowls have been covered up. The fountain was originally installed at Adelaide Place in 1884, however, it was re-erected in its current location in 1895 as a replacement for an earlier fountain on the site.
Title
The United Kingdom Temperance and General Provident Institution Drinking Fountain
Date
1884
Medium
bronze & Cornish granite
Measurements
H 213 x W (?) x D (?) cm;
Plinth: H 251 x W 251 x D (?) cm
Accession number
SW4_VA_S003
Acquisition method
commissioned by the United Kingdom Temperance and General Provident Institution (UKTGPA)
Work type
Water fountain, trough or pump
Owner
Lambeth London Borough Council
Custodian
Lambeth London Borough Council
Work status
extant
Listing status
Grade II (England and Wales)
Unveiling date
28 October 1884
Listing date
27/03/81
Access
at all times
Signature/marks description
makers’ names on sculpture base; on left: A KRELING / inv et mod; on right rear: FERD. MILLER / MUNCHEN
Inscription description
inscriptions on escutcheons on pedestal drum; on right: THE GIFT OF / THE UNITED / KINGDOM / TEMPERANCE / & GENERAL / PROVIDENT / INSTITUTION; on rear: 1884