Poets' Fountain facts for kids

The fountain

The Poets' Fountain was a beautiful public fountain with sculptures. It was set up in Park Lane, London, in 1875. This special fountain was removed in 1948 and is believed to have been destroyed. However, one important sculpture from it, an angel-like figure representing Fame, survived! You can see it today in the gardens at Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire.

The Poets' Fountain

What Was the Fountain?

The Poets' Fountain was a large and artistic public water feature. It stood about 26 feet (7.9 m) (nearly 8 meters) tall. The fountain had a basin at its base. Around this basin were three bronze statues of muses. Muses are goddesses who inspire arts and sciences. These muses represented Comedy (Thalia), Tragedy (Melpomene), and History (Clio).

Above these muses were three standing marble statues of famous English poets. These were William Shakespeare, Geoffrey Chaucer, and John Milton. Shakespeare was placed between Tragedy and Comedy. Milton stood between Tragedy and History. Chaucer was found between Comedy and History.

Who Paid for It?

The fountain cost £5,000, which was a lot of money back then! It was a gift from Mrs. Maria Mangini Brown. She was born in London in 1777 and had Italian family roots. Mrs. Brown wanted to celebrate the greatness of English poetry. So, in 1871, she started a competition. Artists were invited to design a sculpture for this purpose.

The Artists Behind the Fountain

The artist Thomas Thornycroft won the design competition. He worked on the fountain with help from his family. His wife, Mary Thornycroft, and their son, Hamo Thornycroft, were also involved. Other family members even posed as models for the sculptures.

Thomas Thornycroft created the statue of Milton. He also designed the bronze muse of Tragedy. His son, Hamo, sculpted the statues of Chaucer and the muse of Comedy. Hamo also created the golden statue of Fame. He thought this statue of Fame was his best public artwork.

The Statue of Fame

The very top of the fountain featured a gilded (gold-covered) statue. This statue represented a winged figure of Fame. She was shown holding a laurel wreath and blowing a trumpet. This statue faced towards Hyde Park. It was a symbol of lasting recognition and glory.

Where is the Fountain Now?

The Poets' Fountain was officially opened on July 9, 1875. It was located where Hamilton Place met Park Lane. During the Blitz (a bombing campaign in World War II), the fountain was damaged. It was removed in 1948. This removal might have been part of plans to make Park Lane wider.

Most parts of the fountain are now lost. They are believed to have been destroyed. However, the statue of Fame was saved! It was rescued by a person named Osbert Sitwell. Today, you can see this beautiful statue in the garden at Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire. There, it is known as the Angel of Fame. It was re-gilded with gold in 2002.