Poets' Fountain

Poets' Fountain was a Victorian fountain in Westminster featuring bronze statues of three muses representing Comedy, Tragedy, and History. Above these figures sat marble sculptures of Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Milton, creating a literary composition of classical and English literary elements.

The fountain was created in 1875 through a competition funded by Maria Mangini Brown and stood at the junction of Hamilton Place and Park Lane. It remained a fixture of this central London location until its removal in 1948.

The fountain's name referenced the three poets whose statues adorned it, celebrating major figures in English literary history. Visitors could see how classical muses were connected to the works of these celebrated authors through the sculptural design.

The fountain stood on a traffic island in central London and was visible from multiple directions, making it easy to spot from different vantage points. Its location at a busy intersection made it a natural landmark for people navigating the area.

Although most of the fountain was dismantled in 1948, the gilded statue of Fame survived and now resides at Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire. This rescued sculpture stands as one of the few remaining pieces from what was once a prominent central London landmark.

Location: City of Westminster

Inception: 1875

Creator: Thomas Thornycroft, Mary Thornycroft, Hamo Thornycroft

GPS coordinates: 51.50509,-0.15050

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:24