Relief

Phoenix Fire Office

Site: Cornhill pump (5 memorials)

EC3, Cornhill

Around the top are some delightful reliefs in iron of the badges of early fire insurance companies: Sun, Phoenix, London and Royal Exchange. These are all crudely coloured with red, gold, blue.  See 'Also at this site'.

This water pump, designed by architect Nathaniel Wright, is Grade II listed, where it is described “Obelisk of cast iron with canted corners, slight decoration and long inscriptions. Granite trough probably of later date.” As you can see from our photos the pump is (2011) in a dreadful state of repair. Let's hope someone notices soon and perhaps the modern day equivalents of its original erectors will fund its restoration.

2015: prompted by Jon Pettigrew on Facebook we must report that the pump was indeed restored not long after we photographed it.  (Keeping London Remembers up-to-date could become a full-time job.)  But the splendid A London Inheritance has photographed it for us, and provided some earlier photos and history.

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:
Phoenix Fire Office

Subjects commemorated i

Phoenix Fire Office

Bryan Mawer says "In 1782, the Phoenix Fire Office was established by sugar r...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Phoenix Fire Office

Also at this site i

Cornhill pump

Cornhill pump

We understand "the neighbouring fire officers" to mean the four fire assuranc...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Women's Social and Political Union - prisoners' badge

Women's Social and Political Union - prisoners' badge

SW1, Abingdon Street, Victoria Tower Gardens

The sculpture shows a WSPU prisoners' badge. This was designed by Sylvia Pankhurst - see there for more information about it.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Mercers’ Maiden

Mercers’ Maiden

EC3, Corbet Court

Discovering London suggests that this might be the oldest inscription in London.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Sealing of the Magna Carta - Parliament Square

Sealing of the Magna Carta - Parliament Square

SW1, Little George Street, Supreme Court

At one time this was the site of nearby Westminster Abbey's Sanctuary Tower and Belfry. This building was designed by James S. Gibson an...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Lady Jane Grey accepting the crown

Lady Jane Grey accepting the crown

SW1, Little George Street, Supreme Court

At one time this was the site of nearby Westminster Abbey's Sanctuary Tower and Belfry. This building was designed by James S. Gibson an...

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Infants Hospital - baby 3

Infants Hospital - baby 3

SW1, Udall Street

The two be-wreathed babies are on the building on the south-east side of the street, which was the 1914 nurses home; the others on the, p...

Previously viewed

George Lansbury - E14

George Lansbury - E14

E14, East India Dock Road, 203

Near this place on July 29th 1921 George Lansbury led the people and councillors of Poplar on their march to the high court for the equal...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
William Robert Colton

William Robert Colton

Sculptor. Born Paris but came to England early and made his home in London. The only other public work in London that we know of is the 1897 Mermaid Fountain or Little Nell, in Hyde Park, just nor...

Person, Sculpture, France

1 memorial
Sir Edward David Stern

Sir Edward David Stern

1st and last Baronet of Chertsey.  Son of David Stern. Army officer and businessman. Stern Bros. of 57 Gracechurch Street were merchant banks and manufacturers of lubricating oils. Stern Brothers w...

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial