1872 – Bryant & May Testimonial Fountain, Bow, London

This elaborate fountain was commissioned by Bryant and May to celebrate the abolition of the proposed match tax in 1872. Erected by public subscription and demolished when the road was widened in 1953.

From The Building News, June 7 1872: “A large number of persons engaged, or otherwise interested, in the manufacture of matches, having determined to mark their appreciation of services rendered to the trade by Messrs. Bryant & May, of Bow, a considerable sum of money was subscribed with a view of presenting them with a suitable testimonial; they, however, declined to receive any personal gift ; it was, therefore, determined to erect in their honour the fountain shown in the view. A site was granted by the Chairman and Directors of the North London Railway in front of their station at Bow, and the fountain is now in course of erection. The structure is 7ft. square at the base, and 35ft high to the top of the vane. The lower part up to the caps of the lower buttresses is executed in Bristol blue pennant stone, and the remainder is carried out in Portland stone, all the columns being in red Mansfield stone. The centre stage is open on all sides, and forms a groined canopy, in which is placed a carved figure in Sicilian marble ; the whole is surmounted by a spire richly ornamented by diapered bands. The water service will be supplied gratuitously by the Drinking Fountains Association, and the fountain will be handed over to their care on its completion. The work is being carried out by Mr. J.W. Scale, sculptor, of Walworth, from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. Rowland Plumbe, F.R.I.B.A., architect, 13, Fitzroy-square, W.”