Fountain

George Sparkes memorial

Erection date: 1880

Inscription

{Inscribed in the granite of the north, pavement, side of the plinth:}
In affectionate remembrance of the late George Sparkes of Bromley in Kent, formerly judge at Madras in the East India Company's civil service, a great and good man, gifted with every refined feeling and much esteemed by all who knew him.
Died 30 January 1878 in his 68th year.
Erected by his widow AD 1880.

{An equivalent quantity of Latin text is inscribed on the south, road, side of the plinth and we are pretty certain it says roughly the same as the English inscription.}

Site: George Sparkes fountain (1 memorial)

SW3, Chelsea Embankment

A modern plaque screwed to the west side of the plinth reads: "This plaque commemorates the completion of the refurbishment of this memorial fountain by Transport for London and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and the formal opening by the Worshipful the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Councillor Robert Freeman, and Dana Skelley OBE, Director of Asset Management, Transport for London, 18th May 2016."

An exceedingly dull plaque but the refurbishment left this fountain actually providing water, for people and animals. This is so rare that we will forgive them the plaque!

See the George Webster fountain in Dulwich Village for another manifestation of this design.

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:
George Sparkes memorial

Subjects commemorated i

East India Company

Formed as a trading company but went on to effectively rule India, on behalf ...

Read More

George Sparkes

London Parks and Gardens Trust provides: In the 1850s No 16 High Street {Brom...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
George Sparkes memorial

Created by i

Charles Barry, Jnr

Architect particularly associated with Dulwich. Born 39 Ely Place, Holborn, e...

Read More

Emily Sparkes

Emily Carpenter, daughter of a Bromley gamekeeper, met George Sparkes while w...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Hayhilll fountain

Hayhilll fountain

SE1, Lambeth Palace Road

{Carved in the marble surface at the back:} Erected to the memory of H. Hayhill by his friends in HM Exchequer and Audit Dept. 1882.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Mrs Kirby's fountain

Mrs Kirby's fountain

W11, Westbourne Grove, ‘Turquoise Island’

This corner is well-supplied with water. To the left of our photo, closer to the flower stall there is a granite horse trough, very simil...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Passmore Edwards drinking fountain - N1

Passmore Edwards drinking fountain - N1

N1, Hoxton Square

We love the elaborately correct use of English: "... in the acquisition of which for ...". To us it seems exaggerated, convoluted. Did ...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Chalybeate Well

Chalybeate Well

NW3, Well Walk

The water source was discovered at the end of the 17th century. 'Chalybeate' denotes a natural mineral spring containing iron salts. At t...

2 subjects commemorated
Yeates sisters

Yeates sisters

N16, Clissold Park, Clissold House

When we found this touching memorial we wanted to know more: the names of the three babies who died; the home they had lived in and the r...

4 subjects commemorated, 1 creator