The landmark Victorian drinking fountain and commemorative plaque on the corner of the High Street and Surrey Street in central Croydon are being restored to bring them back to their former glory.
The restoration works are largely being funded by a grant from the Heritage of London Trust and are part of the Council’s Amplifying Surrey Street project and the Executive Mayor’s Town Centre Vision.
They include cleaning, repairs to the stonework and terracotta, repairing and reinstating original metalwork, and providing new drainage, water supply and push-button operation. Works are being carried out by London Stone Conservation and are expected to be completed by mid-July.
Local schools have been involved in the renewal works through the Heritage of London Trust’s Proud Places youth engagement programme, which helps young people gain important life skills.
Once completed, the fountain will be fully functional, providing clean drinking water from the lion’s mouth and helping to reduce the use of single use plastic bottles.
Built in 1896, on the corner formally known as Stevenson’s Corner, the drinking fountain is a rare example of its type, built of granite and terracotta. It was unveiled by the then Civic Mayor of Croydon, Frederick Thomas Edridge.
The plaque, which will be replaced once cleaned, explains how the space was designed as part of road widening of the High Street at the same time as the current Town Hall was built. The original Town Hall Garden, now part of The Queen’s Gardens, was also opened at this time.
“Croydon is full of history and it’s important that features like the drinking fountain, which sits within the central Croydon Conservation Area, are looked after for future generations of Croydonians.
“I am pleased that through this grant with the Heritage of London Trust we can restore the drinking fountain, and bring it back into use, restoring civic pride to our town centre.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
Dr Nicola Stacey, Director, Heritage of London Trust, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the restoration of this historic fountain in the heart of Croydon – a source of much local pride 130 years ago. It’s been fantastic to involve Croydon’s young people in the project through our Proud Places programme.”
