St Lawrence and Mary Magdalene Drinking Fountain

Overview

The St Lawrence and Mary Magdalene Drinking Fountain, or St Lawrence Jewry Memorial Drinking Fountain as it’s also known, is a spectacular Victorian drinking fountain near to St Paul’s Cathedral in central London.

It’s free to visit this impressive structure and makes an excellent stop off during a self-guided tour of some of the sights of the City of London and the surrounding area. Its proximity to St Paul’s Cathedral makes it a must-visit if you’re going to the iconic landmark.

It’s a great photo opportunity, and you can spend a few moments exploring its design features. The fountain has a fascinating history as it appears to have been here for hundreds of years, yet it was only installed in its current setting in 2010 – a relatively new landmark!

History of the drinking fountain

The St Lawrence and Mary Magdalene Drinking Fountain was first built in 1866. At that time, it was situated outside the Church of St Lawrence Jewry, near Guildhall. The fountain was a gift to the City of London from the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association.

The fountain was the result of a collaboration between the architect John Robinson, who designed it, and the artist Joseph Durham, who created the bronze sculpture. However, when Guildhall was redeveloped in the 1970s, the drinking fountain was dismantled into around 150 pieces and stored away.

Fast forward to the 2000s, and the fountain was restored and rebuilt in its current position to the south of St Paul’s Cathedral, at the eastern end of Carter Lane Gardens. A significant amount of the original stonework was reused, with new stone added where the old stone had been lost or was too damaged to use. The project was finally completed in 2010.

Features and design of the St Lawrence and Mary Magdalene Drinking Fountain

The fountain is designed in the Pointed style of architecture. This style was popular in Italy during the 14th century and inspired the Gothic Revival style that was prevalent during Victorian times. It is thought to be one of the first monuments created in this style and was influential in shaping later creations.

The fountain is built on a plinth with two steps, which matches its original setting. The fountain’s decoration features a bronze carving that depicts Moses striking a rock with a large bowl in front of him, which is where the water was originally dispensed.

Above this are stone carvings of the patron saints, St Lawrence and St Mary Magdalene, from which the fountain takes its name. The fountain has two blank sides where the names of the benefactors were once listed.

There is a bronze plaque on the eastern side of the base that has an inscription on it detailing some of the history of the drinking fountain.

Is it possible to get a drink from the St Lawrence and Mary Magdalene Drinking Fountain?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to get a drink from the St Lawrence and Mary Magdalene Drinking Fountain!

However, there are some more modern water fountains nearby where you can fill up your reusable bottle. These locations include:

Pudding Lane at Monument
Outside St Paul’s Churchyard
Outside St Mary-le-Bow on Cheapside

Things to see and do nearby

There’s plenty to see and do near to the Victorian drinking fountain.

St Paul’s Cathedral

The magnificent cathedral itself is just steps away from the fountain. Admire the architecture from the outside for free or go inside to see the crypt and scale the dome.

Carter Lane Gardens

A perfect place to spend a few peaceful moments or enjoy lunch with spectacular views of the cathedral.

St Paul’s Churchyard

Enjoy the historic churchyard gardens and surrounding green spaces as you take a break from sightseeing.

Queen Anne statue

Another historic sculpture to add to your list, you can find this monument to Queen Anne outside the west front of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Paternoster Square

Paternoster Square is home to shops, bars, and restaurants. Don’t miss the interesting sculptures and artworks on display here.

Millennium Bridge

Cross the Thames on this spectacular modern bridge and enjoy views over the river. On the other side, you’ll find the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Postman’s Park

Another green space away from the hustle and bustle of the City of London. Postman’s Park is home to the contemplative Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice, commemorating ordinary people who have given their lives to save others.

How to get to the St Lawrence and Mary Magdalene Drinking Fountain from YHA London St Paul’s

The fountain is extremely close to YHA London St Paul’s at just 0.1 miles (0.2 kilometres) away. Because of this, the easiest way to get there is to walk. The walk takes around three minutes along Carter Lane.