Fountain

Leonard Montefiore fountain

Erection date: 1884

Inscription

{Two faces are inscribed with lead lettering:}
1884.
In affectionate remembrance of Leonard Montefiore who loved children and whom all children loved.
{Below this text is an oblong section of rough granite which we think used to be covered by a bronze plaque.}

L. A. M.
Clear brain and sympathetic heart,
A spirit on flame with love for man,
Hands quick to labour, slow to part, 
If any good since time began, 
A soul can fashion, such souls can.

We usually try and find an attractive detail for our close-up picture but we failed on this fountain; its design was rather austere, for its time, and what might have been decorative features, such as the spouts, have gone. Similarly we have failed to identify the author of the poem.

2023: responding to these points, researcher Sebastian Bulmer wrote: "Tower Hamlets archive has a picture of it at its original location in Rutland Street School which shows a rather fine metalwork lattice frame that would have sat over the pyramid. I don't know who authored the lines of poetry on the fountain, but they appear at the front of a posthumously published collection of Leonard Montefiore's writing which can be found here."  The unattributed poetry appears as an epigraph in place of a frontispiece to the book.

Site: Leonard Montefiore fountain (1 memorial)

E1, Stepney Green

March 2023: Jewish News reported that this fountain has been restored and there's a photo of it actually giving forth water!

VADS gives the history of this fountain: "Was erected in 1884 at Rutland Street School and moved to its present site in 1939."  Following this up we found an East London 'Rutland Street' with a Board School on its north side. This is now the section of Ashfield Road just to the west of Cavell Street. See the excellent 1899 MapRoom. 1885 photo of the Board School (no fountain in sight). We imagine the fountain may have been moved when the school was demolished but one wonders why it was moved such a distance, over half a mile.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Leonard Montefiore fountain

Subjects commemorated i

Leonard Montefiore

Author and philanthropist. Leonard Abraham Montefiore was born Kensington.  G...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

High Path Estate horse trough

High Path Estate horse trough

SW19, Merton High Street, Doel Close

There is another trough with the same inscription further west along the road.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Marmaduke's drinking fountain

Marmaduke's drinking fountain

WC2, Endell Street

The arch from the Victorian drinking fountain has been rescued and reused above a modern drinking fountain, which no longer produces wate...

1 subject commemorated
Norwood fountain - Autumn

Norwood fountain - Autumn

SW16, Norwood Grove, garden

Autumn is clutching an armful of fruit.

1 creator
Lyttelton Fountain

Lyttelton Fountain

W1, Piccadilly

Standing in Piccadilly one sees 4 memorials on the wall: from left to right: Sotheran Fountain, Garden, Lyttelton Fountain, Railings. The...

1 subject commemorated
Triton Fountain

Triton Fountain

NW1, Inner Circle, Regent's Park, Queen Mary's Gardens

Donated in 1950. The surrounding terrace layout was designed by Goetze in collaboration with Duncan Campbell in 1938. Sculptor: William ...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

Lytton Strachey

Lytton Strachey

WC1, Gordon Square, 51

Greater London Council Lytton Strachey, 1880 - 1932, critic and biographer, lived here.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Charles Chapman

Charles Chapman

A parishioner or member of the congregation of St Matthias, N16, who died in WW1.

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Nelson's column

Nelson's column

WC2, Trafalgar Square

Erected to commemorate the Trafalgar victory over Napoleon of 1805. The height, from top of hat to pavement is said to be 170 feet and 2 ...

2 subjects commemorated, 8 creators
L.Corp. T. J. Richardson

L.Corp. T. J. Richardson

Served in the Yorks L.Inf.

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Church House - WC2

Church House - WC2

WC2, Burleigh Street, 14

2018: The Telegraph included this little gem in their Unsung buildings that bring Victorian London to life. They write: "It was built by ...

1 subject commemorated