Fountain

John Law Baker fountain

Inscription

{On the front of the base, written in inserted metal letters:}
In memory of John Law Baker, formerly of the Madras Army, born 1789 - died 1886.

This is a lovely piece of sculpture. The cut off fluted column possibly indicates the "life cut short" of John Baker Law, but he died aged 97 so not that short! Two sides are provided with these wonderful lion-head fountains above fluted basins. The front carries a large patera (plain round boss) which may have been duplicated at the back but currently the back of this main section is entirely missing.

Site: John Law Baker fountain + Conroy (2 memorials)

WC2, Duncannon Street, behind St. Martin-in-the-fields

In a Westminster audit of 2003 the Baker fountain was described as being "inside the churchyard in the south west corner ...c.1886 featuring a stone column with lionhead fountains issuing into basins." Since then the church and its surroundings have undergone a renovation leaving the fountain rather stranded on this terrace.

The Geraldine Conroy stone is one of the gray edging stones of the raised platform on which the man sits.  Geraldine’s daughter, Katharine Whalen, gave a large sum of money to fund the renewal of the courtyard.  Katharine and her husband Dan are wealthy philanthropic Americans.  The Renewal of St Martin’s gives more information.

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
John Law Baker fountain

Subjects commemorated i

John Law Baker

Of the Madras Army. Misty's flickr page has some useful information. It point...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
John Law Baker fountain

Also at this site i

Geraldine Campbell Conroy

Geraldine Campbell Conroy

In memory of Geraldine Campbell Conroy, Jacksonville Florida, 1916 – 1992.  T...

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Nearby Memorials

Hyde Park bomb - the horses

Hyde Park bomb - the horses

W1, South Carriage Drive, Hyde Park

This trough was originally installed in 1892 at Victoria Embankment, "near Temple Precincts" which must mean somewhere between Temple Pla...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Ward drinking trough

Ward drinking trough

SW16, Streatham Common South

There is a non-working drinking fountain at the other end of the trough.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Reardon drinking fountain - Avondale Park

Reardon drinking fountain - Avondale Park

W11, Walmer Road, Avondale Park

There are a number of Reardon fountains of this design and most seem to have the identical dedication inscription. A photo of a similar f...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Sloane Square drinking fountain

Sloane Square drinking fountain

SW1, Sloane Square

The lettering is incised and painted black - very effective.

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
du Bois fountain

du Bois fountain

N19, Waterlow Park

The text is inscribed into the main body of the fountain but can really only be read with the fingers. As is common nowadays, the founta...

3 subjects commemorated