Great turn-out for the Library memorial unveiling

The entrance to our Library is graced by the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee memorial drinking fountain.

On 20th July the HWA and the Friends of the Library co-hosted public event to mark the renovation of the memorial and its setting at the entrance to the Library. The event was attended by more than 60 people who enjoyed fruit punch and cucumber sandwiches while listening to speeches by Cllr Tony Arbour and HWA Chair Mark Merrington. Cllr Arbour then unveiled a plaque kindly provided by Richmond Housing Partnership. Click here to see a video of the event (thanks to film-maker Alan Benns).

Built with public donations in 1897, the fountain was originally sited on the High Street. With the arrival of the trams in the early 20th century it was relocated to the junction of Church Grove and Hampton Court Road. Here it mouldered and became overgrown, losing its lamp in the process. Half a century later Tony Arbour had the idea of restoring it and moving it to its current position to mark the Library’s entrance. This was achieved with the enthusiastic help of the Hampton Wick Association in the year of our current Queen’s Sliver Jubilee.

Recently, the Friends of Hampton Wick Library noticed that the memorial was in danger from an overgrown tree in a brick container immediately behind it. The brick container was broken and the tree was swamping the memorial.

The Friends have worked with the Council and Richmond Housing Partnership to have the tree removed and the area made safe. The Fountain now has a greatly enhanced setting and is a fitting marker of the entrance to the Library.