Comments on: The Pumps Of Old London

By: David

David — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 08:59:53 +0000

The Pump Court pump has fairly recently been replaced – in the last 6 months or so I think. I work nearby and suddenly noticed it one day!

By: Pamela Traves

Pamela Traves — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 03:55:36 +0000

I Really Enjoyed these Pictures. Thank You Very Much.???????

By: Cohen Colin

Cohen Colin — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 16:02:23 +0000

I wonder if rather than Royal Mail ‘In Gray’s Inn Sq – where, in haste, a passing lawyer mislaid a red elastic band’ might be a substitute for red tape [actually pink]”

By: jennifer newbold

jennifer newbold — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 12:58:41 +0000

Dear G.A.,

Thank you for the photographs of these noble survivors. Sadly they have become little more than street furniture, which I can attest to; because although I have never gone hunting for them, I KNOW that I walked right past the one between St. Paul’s and Paternoster Square in February and didn’t even see it. (Granted, I was on the phone at the time. Intrusive things, phones.)

By: Saba

Saba — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 12:03:56 +0000

I find myself thinking of all the housewives and servants who must have gone out to the pump in whatever weather to get water for the household.

By: paul loften

paul loften — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 11:01:37 +0000

The Victorians were able to produce such inquiring minds as John Snow who came up with an answer to this terrible disease that was sweeping London in 1854 and the pump stands as evidence of this. Yet 166 years on with all our knowledge will we ever have a monument dedicated to the person who discovers the cure for Coronavirus or will we be forever living in fear of it? Are we paying the price for computers making our hands and brains lazy?

Thankyou GA for reminding us

By: Johnny Homer

Johnny Homer — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 10:47:54 +0000

A wonderful and fascinating piece, as usual.

I posted a blog of my own a few days ago which touched on the famous Soho pump you mention. If anyone is interested here’s a link.

https://johnnyhomer.wordpress.com/

Happy Friday.

By: Pauline Taylor

Pauline Taylor — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 10:12:36 +0000

When it is pure and untainted there is nothing to compare to fresh well water. All our water, in my home where I grew up, came from our own well apart from the water from the water butt which we used to wash our hair. It is a shame that borough councils do not take better care of these surviving pumps in London, it is a missed opportunity to provide an information board close by which could inform visitors of the significance of a source of water to mediaeval Londoners. Not forgetting information as to the devastation caused by outbreaks of cholera in later times. My own 2xgreat grandfather died in one of those in Lt Paris Street Lambeth when an outbreak raged there 1848-1849. Then of course it was thought that the disease was transmitted through the air in a miasma, it was only realized later that the public water supply had been polluted by foul water extracted from the River Thames. Lt Paris Street adjoined the garden of Lambeth Palace but I don’t think the Archbishop died, perhaps he had his own private supply of water !?!

Thank you GA for another very interesting reminder of these surviving pumps.

By: michael bundy

michael bundy — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 09:56:43 +0000

I believe the white cross on a red background is the flag of St John. A quick visit to St John’s Gate in Clerkenwell ( another well ! ) will confirm this. Interesting survey. With Thanks Michael Bundy

By: Tim Roberts

Tim Roberts — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 09:56:11 +0000

‘The pumps don’t work cos the vandals stole the handles.’
Zimmerman, R