Relocation of Driver Fountain
Relocation of Driver Fountain
Arches Local is delighted to bring a remarkable piece of Chatham’s heritage back to its rightful home in Luton on its 125th anniversary.
The fountain was originally installed at the Luton Arches in October 1899, donated by three-time mayor William Dawes Driver to celebrate the life of his late father, Joshua Driver – a successful merchant, local politician and helper of those in need.
Made of Peterhead red and Aberdeen blue granite, the fountain was designed not just to serve the townspeople but also their horses, featuring drinking basins and a trough. However, in 1961 the fountain was relocated to a forgotten corner of Chatham Cemetery due to plans to build a taxi rank in its place, which never came to fruition. Meanwhile, the trough was disposed of despite various claims otherwise.
The fountain’s return to Luton has been no simple feat, beginning over a decade ago with a simple news article to try and prompt action, but to no avail. Despite several false starts, this year Arches Local decided to make one final effort and approached the project with a fresh perspective. We commissioned Taylor Pearce, royal warrant-holding stonemasons, and Meristem Design, expert landscape designers, to bring this project to life.
Various relocation sites were considered, including its original location by the roundabout and a site by the pedestrian crossing on Chatham Hill, which was favoured by Medway Council during their relocation attempt some years ago. However, all options aside from the final chosen site proved unfeasible due to the extensive engineering works and implausible road closures necessary for safe reassembly.
During our disassembly we discovered that all of its plumbing was already removed and the cavities were backfilled with concrete. As a result, replumbing is no longer possible, even if we had wished to do so.
Through the fountain’s return to its rightful place, the legacy of both Joshua and William Driver will continue to be a part of Chatham’s story for generations to come. Relocating the historic Driver Fountain on its 125th anniversary is yet another step in our ongoing commitment to repairing Chatham’s urban landscape. We believe that our shared spaces should be places where nature thrives, culture is celebrated, and communities come together.
Photos: Jane Robb
