Buxton Memorial Fountain, London 1971

A 1970s colour photo of the Buxton Memorial Fountain in Victoria Tower Gardens during the latter half of the 20th century. The ornate Gothic Revival structure, designed by Samuel Sanders Teulon and completed in 1866, stands prominently on the green lawn under the shade of large plane trees. The scene from 1971 shows several visitors gathered around the base, including a woman in a checked dress talking to a man in a dark suit, and a young mother tending to her children nearby. Built to commemorate the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834 and the dedicated work of Thomas Fowell Buxton, the fountain features a distinctive spire with colourful enamelled details and pink granite columns. In the background, the stone wall of the river embankment and the surface of the River Thames are visible, capturing this historic monument in its tranquil riverside setting near the Houses of Parliament. For more images of the capital, please visit our main London page where photos are organised by decade or area and theme.