Buxton Memorial Fountain

The Buxton Memorial Fountain stands in Victoria Tower Gardens, a small park beside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. It is an octagonal drinking fountain made of polished Devonshire marble and granite, with eight open arches and a central shaft. The memorial commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834 and the role of British parliamentarians in the abolition campaign. It was commissioned by Charles Buxton MP and designed by him with the neo-Gothic architect Samuel Sanders Teulon. The fountain was completed in 1866 and originally stood in Parliament Square before being moved in 1957. The fountain is worth visiting for its historical significance and architectural design. It honours figures such as William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson, and Thomas Babington Macaulay, who were key in the abolition of the slave trade and slavery. The memorial also marks the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which ended slavery in America. A plaque added in 1989 commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Anti-Slavery Society. The fountain has undergone restorations, including in 2007, to preserve its structure and figures. Visitors find an ornate octagonal structure with eight bronze figures representing British rulers from different eras. The central shaft supports four granite basins, and the open arches allow light to pass through. The surrounding Victoria Tower Gardens offer views of the River Thames and the Palace of Westminster. The memorial’s inscriptions explain its purpose and the achievements it celebrates. Though some original figures were lost, fibreglass replacements were later added and then removed, leaving the fountain’s history visibly marked.