Restoration

The Christ Church drinking fountain, erected in 1900 by the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association, is a Grade II listed drinking fountain funded by the philanthropist John Passmore Edwards. It is one of only three of his original fountains that still survive today. Unlike the others in Hoxton Square, Duncan Terrace, and Leyton Square—which were all architecturally different—the Christ Church fountain is notable for its distinctive design. 

The fountain is set on an octagonal step and features a chamfered square stone base on a plinth. The central stone feature rises to a pyramidal roof adorned with a commemorative copper plaque. The Portland stone fountain has two bowls on opposite sides. Above, a conical tiled roof is supported by four bracketed wooden posts, topped with an elaborate copper finial.  By the time of restoration, the fountain had suffered significant structural deterioration, including a failed sub-base that caused it to lean and a damaged roof from a fallen tree. One of the original stone basins had been replaced with a non-functional metal version, and the timber frame had deteriorated.

In 2025, a full restoration was undertaken by London Stone Conservation with support from Heritage of London Trust. The stonework was carefully dismantled, cleaned, repaired, and repointed. A new concrete foundation was created to stabilise the leaning fountain. A hand carved bowl was fitted in place of the dysfunctional metal bowl and stone repairs were carried out. The timber roof structure was repaired, the slate tiles replaced. New plumbing, taps were connected to the water mains, restoring the function of the fountain.