Guilford Place fountain

Work has begun on the restoration of a Grade II listed fountain at the site of one of London’s earliest fresh water sources, the ‘conduit’ in Lamb’s Conduit Street.  The Guilford Place fountain in Bloomsbury was erected in 1870 in memory of Mrs Francis Whiting by her daughters, who lived in nearby Mecklenburgh Square.  It has a sculptured marble figure of the ‘Woman of Samaria’ pouring water from a jug, from the Biblical story of Jesus’s meeting with a Samaritan woman at a well. 

The fountain had not been working for some years and was in poor repair. It is the 12th historic fountain to be fully restored by HOLT and the project is being generously supported by the Jones Day Foundation, local resident Roger Cline and WC Bars Bloomsbury. As part of our Proud Places programme, students from Westminster Kingsway College have been visiting the site to meet the stonemasons at work and taken part in creative workshops.

Bowie Bandstand launch

The unveiling of the Bowie Bandstand in Bromley was a great success and it looks fantastic. The Mayor and local school children as part of our Proud Places programme showed off their gilding skills and a range of brilliant local talents sang and performed. The bandstand is now open to the public following its restoration. Our great thanks to Knight Frank who supported this project.

Leaning Woman under restoration

Restoration works on the Leaning Woman are progressing and we have had some brilliant Proud Places programme visits throughout with the young people able to try their hand at conservation. Alex Cardew, whose mother was the model for the sculptor, Dr Karel Vogel, was also able to visit the conservators at work as they restored the corroded iron armature and repaired cracks in the concrete. Work on the sculpture will be completed towards the end of this month.