Public drinking fountains are a relic from a bygone era. Across the country, public park drinking fountains have fallen into disrepair, while many new and refurbished parks lack access to clean drinking water. Donated in 1899, Mrs Maple’s Fountain in Penge Recreation Ground found itself in a similar situation. Lying derelict for many years, this Victorian-era water fountain was once a vital source of fresh water for the local community.
Now, thanks to funding from the Heritage of London Trust and growing local support, plans are in place to fully restore the iconic red granite fountain, returning it to use as a working water feature.
Raising funds for the restoration project
Restoring the drinking fountain to its former glory requires significant investment. It’ll cost £33,000 to reconnect the water supply and start granite restoration work, with a similar amount needed to complete the project. Funds have been raised from a range of community donations, including a generous £1,000 donation from Sharon O’Donohue, and, following a successful funding pitch, an equally generous £15,000 grant from the Heritage of London Trust (HOLT). Established in 1980, The Heritage of London Trust is a London-based charity dedicated to the restoration of historic buildings, monuments, and landmarks across the capital’s 32 boroughs. To date, the restoration project has raised £36,000. A fantastic effort from all involved!
With a November 2026 deadline to claim the funding, there’s some pressure to raise the remaining funds. The Penge Festival Fete has kindly agreed to donate all profits from the festival to the project, and with a £10,000 Jubilee Parks bid also in the works, there’s hope the remaining funds can be raised before the cutoff point later this year.
If you’d like to support the campaign, you can donate here.
Next steps
With Bromley Council’s formal approval of the Project Proposal Form, permission was granted to move forward with the Strategic Project. The project team are arranging meetings with contractors, while plumbing quotes are sought for the water reconnection phase.
