London & Greater London

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[This section needs re-ordering, and I'll get around to it as soon as I can.]

acton This stocky pump in Acton is on The Mount, by the North-West Door of St. Mary's Church. It was originally located in the High St., where it had replaced an earlier conduit which previously had supplied the locality with water. It was removed to Woodlands Park when the High Street was set back in 1919. In 1952, it was taken to Gunnersbury Park and stored in the open until in 1988 the Acton Charities requested its return. Funds were raised, the restoration was carried out by Dorothea Restorations of Whaley Bridge, Derbs, and it was re-erected by Burton Brothers, builders of East Acton. Photographs and information kindly supplied by the Acton History group. The pump carries two inscriptions:
1819
T. FREETHY
MAKER
ACTON
ERECTED BY THE
REV
WM. ANTROBUS
(Rev William Antrobus was the long serving rector of St. Mary's, who died in 1853.)
Markings: None other.

Manufacturer: Thomas Freethy, carpenter and builder, Acton.

aldgate aldgate aldgate At the junction of Aldgate, Leadenhall St., and Fenchurch St, this pump has a significant history.

Markings: None.

Manufacturer: Unk. 

broadwick st The "Broad St. Pump", in what's now known as Broadwick St., Soho, has probably the most famous history of any pump in the country. It's only a replica, but click here to read the inscription on the plaque.

Markings: None other.

Manufacturer: Unk.

camberwell In Peckham, Camberwell, the old pump has been used as a base for a lamp post. Photos supplied by Mike Faherty - thanks, Mike.

Markings: None reported.

Manufacturer: Unk.
camberwell

catford This one in the centre of Catford seems to be nicely preserved. Photo supplied by Simon Cowper-Smith - thanks, Simon.

Markings: None reported.

Manufacturer: Unk.

cornhill Ancient cast iron shrouded pump on Cornhill, near the back of the Royal Exchange, designed by architect Nathaniel Wright. In the past this has been nicely preserved and painted, but it's now in dire need of some more TLC.

Markings: Inscriptions on front and back panels, with four pictorial emblems that might represent the original major contributors.

Manufacturer: Stone base is inscribed:
PHILLIPS & HOPWOOD
ENGINE MAKERS
FECERUNT [=Built]

farnborough The pump in Farnborough village, Greater London (used to be in Kent), is old but not original, and its cap seems to be a modern replacement. There's a plaque nearby which provides some useful information, including a map of the original location of the village pump, and an inscription. Photo supplied by Simon Cowper-Smith - thanks, Simon.

Markings: None reported.

Manufacturer: Unk.

Greenwich, Greater London See separate page.

staple inn staple inn This one's in Staple Inn, Holborn, London and, despite its aged appearance, is dated 1937 - the latest date I've found on an original pump so far.

Markings: "PAC", "1937" and (apparently) two depictions of woolsacks.

Manufacturer: Unk.

gray's inn gray's inn This structure in Gray's Inn, London, looks like a tap now, but is it possibly converted from an earlier pump?




Manufacturer: Unk.

bedford row Imposing double-spouted pump, complete with electric lamp on the top, in Bedford Row, just off Gray's Inn, London. The single handle is strapped down.


Markings: Obscured by paint, but looks like "Thompson & ...".

Manufacturer: Thompson & ...?.

hampton Ornate pump in Bushy Park, Hampton, Greater London. Photograph supplied by Des Smyth - thanks, Des.

Markings: None reported.

Manufacturer: Possibly S. Owens.

hyde park Hyde Park, London. Photo supplied by John Hurst - thanks, John - who points out that it is the same model as the one in nearby Kensington Gardens.

Markings: None.

Manufacturer: Unk.

ickenham Magnificently restored pump in Ickenham, Greater London. Land was granted for its original construction in 1865 and the will of Charlotte Gell, widow of John Henry Gell of The Buntings, provided the funding for the pump to be erected in 1866. (A charity in her name still exists.) It remained in use until December 1914, and in 1927 the local council wanted to move it in order to carry out a road-widening scheme. However, a report of 2003 indicated that £10,000 was to be allocated for its restoration, and it looks as if this took place successfully. Photos supplied by Paul Snelling - thanks, Paul. An inscription running around the inner edges of the octagonal roof reads: ickenham
ERECTED IN THE YEAR 1866
THIS WELL WAS SUNK AND THE PUMP ERECTED
BY THE EXECUTORS OF THE LATE CHARLOTTE GELL
WIDOW WHO DIED ON THE 14TH OF NOVEMBER 1863
AFTER A LONG RESIDENCE IN THIS PARISH
MRS GELL BY HER WILL DESIRED THAT THIS PUMP
SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE USE OF THE

INHABITANTS OF THIS VILLAGE FOREVER
Markings: On the base there's a heavily paint-encrusted panel which reads: ""The gift of Mrs [?] Charlotte Gell to this parish A.D. 1866" . Just above this is a diamond-shaped panel, which perhaps carries an indecipherable logo/coat of arms.

Manufacturer: It's a "No. 15 Enriched Gothic Pump Case" made by S. Owens & Co., of London.

kensington This one's to be found in Kensington Gardens, and is the same model as the one in nearby Hyde Park. Photograph by Chris Williams - thanks, Toph.

Markings: None.

Manufacturer: Unk.

lewisham The pump on Rushey Green, Lewisham High St, has a commemorative plaque nearby, providing a bit of history and dating it to the 1830s. Photograph by Simon Cowper-Smith - thanks, Simon.

Markings: A panel reads: "Turner, 63, Dorset St Fleet St"

Manufacturer: GeorgeTurner.
lewisham

Click here to
see pic I've
taken from www.geograph.
org.uk's site.
The large pump in Longford, Greater London, is one of only two surviving pumps installed by the Colnbrook Turnpike Trust, in order to keep the dust down on the road. (The other one is at Poyle, Bucks.)

Markings: None reported.

Manufacturer: Said to be made by Fowler & Co, of Lambeth.

bryanston sq A bit of classical style in Bryanston Square, Marylebone. The spout is so low down that it must surely mean that the ground level has been raised in modern times. Higher up is a blanked-off outlet which may or may not have held a second spout at some stage. Photograph by John Hurst - thanks, John.

Markings: None.

Manufacturer: Unk.

montagu sq This one, in nearby Montagu Square, Marylebone, looks to be of identical Doric design to the one in Bryanston Square, although it's orientated differently. Photograph by John Hurst - thanks, John.

Markings: None.

Manufacturer: Unk.

shoreditch A once-noble specimen fallen on hard times in Shoreditch, Greater London, now in need of a great deal of TLC. Photos supplied by Chris Williams - thanks, Toph.

Markings: A repeating coat of arms around the Pump Top.

Manufacturer: Unk.
shoreditch

Click here to
see pic I've
taken from www.geograph.
org.uk's site.
By the Wolf Inn, Norwood Green, Southall. The plaque affixed to the pump is inscribed:
THIS PUMP
WAS ERECTED
CIRCA 1860 AND RESTORED
BY THE
NORWOOD GREEN
RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
IN 1982
Markings: None other reported.

Manufacturer: Unk.

queen square queen square  The Queen Square, London, pump, with a single spout and minus its handle, but clearly of very similar pattern to the one in Bedford Row.

Markings: No maker's name but dated MDCCCXL - 1840.

Manufacturer: Probably "Thompson & ...".

Click here to
see pic I've
taken from www.geograph.
org.uk's site.
At Little Common Pond, Stanmore, Greater London.

Markings: Unk.

Manufacturer: Unk.

st. paul's This fine old pump is secured behind padlocked gates in St. Paul's Alley, just to the North of St. Paul's Cathedral, London. It carries the inscription:
ERECTED
BY
ST FAITHS
PARISH.
1819
Markings: There is what seems to be a maker's name on the bottom right of the cast iron casing, but it's not decipherable in my photograph.

Manufacturer: Unk.

tottenham A flywheel & crank pump at Tottenham High Cross, Greater London. . Photo supplied by Paul Snelling - thanks, Paul. Nearby is an informative plaque: tottenham
 THE OLD WELL
A BRIEF HISTORY
 

In early days, while Tottenham was still a village of less than 3,000
inhabitants, local people got their water supply from a well. Deep
underground water supplies were reached using a bucket and a
rope. As time went by, water pumps on street corners were
introduced - one such pump was the Old Well. It was dug in 1791
and paid for by Thomas Smith, Lord of the Manor of Tottenham, at
Bruce Castle. The well was looked after and repaired by the parish
council. The Local Board of Health made improvements to the Old
Well in 1859 by adding a tiled roof.

The Old Well supplied most of the surrounding district with water
until 1883 when the supply was found to be polluted, possibly
because of poor surface drainage. The well was then chained up.
It has never been used since. The Old Well has remained here
unchanged as an interesting piece of old Tottenham.

The well was refurbished by the Rotary Club of Tottenham to mark the Coronation
of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953; It was restored again in 2004 by Haringey Council
in partnership with English Heritage, Transport for London Street Management
and the Heritage of London Trust.
 
Markings: None visible.

Manufacturer: Unk.

twickenham An imposing pump, complete with electric lamp, at Twickenham Green, London. Photo supplied by Paul Snelling - thanks, Paul. It was apparently installed in 1894 for the use of the poor by Countess Waldegrave. It carries the inscription:
THIS PUMP
WAS RESTORED BY
PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION
TO COMMEMORATE THE
SILVER JUBILEE OF
H.M.QUEEN ELIZABETH II
IN THE YEAR 1977
Markings: None other.

Manufacturer: Unk.

uxbridge This pump in Windsor St, Uxbridge, Greater London, opposite the Tube Station, has an unusually large spout. Photos supplied by Paul Snelling - thanks, Paul. A plaque on its side reads:
London Borough of Hillingdon
Town Pump
------------
UXBRIDGE
------------
St. Margaret's
Church
And a nearby information notice states:

Uxbridge was supplied with piped water until c.1800 when the Grand Junction Canal was built severing the old timber pipes. Wells then had to be dug in the Town Centre and this pump is the "last relic of the second stage of the attempts to supply the people of Uxbridge with water". The pump has been restored to its original location. It was unveiled by the Mayor, Councillor E. Hales on the 15th of December 1988.
Markings: None.

Manufacturer: Unk.

Woodford Green, Greater London See separate page.

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