The fountain was working until the mid to late 1960s and some of the older Hornsey residents may remember it as such. At some point it was turned off, the steps were removed and it was filled in with rubble and soil and transformed into a giant planter.​​

In the 1970s the fountain was given Grade II listed status by English Heritage. In the autumn of 2014 the Friends of Priory Park decided to investigate the possiblity of getting it working again.

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In 2017 FofPP signed a Partnership Agreement with Haringey Council, so that we can act on their behalf with regard to the Fountain. 

 

We formed a steering committee, and members sitting on it were: Councillors, Adam Jogee and Dennis Bradley, David Theakston Haringey Council, Lewis Taylor from the Parks Dept, Rob Merry  stone consultant, Simon Carter  Head of Collections at St. Paul's Cathedral, Grace Adam - artist, Chris Chadwick Chair of FofPP, Jennifer Mann and Angela Elliott FofPP committee. 

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Haringey Parks department were fully supportive in all work. The soil was removed from the basin and a complete survey carried out by stone consultant and engineers. This allowed costs to be obtained for a full renovation of the fountain.  However, attempts to bring forward a lottery application failed in late 2018 and the committee momentum faltered.

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2018 (Sep/Nov) – Work of original Fountain Restoration Committee with wide representation effectively comes to an end when effort to pull together Lottery Application founders. It is important to recognise an incredible amount of work and effort that was put in during this period by Angela Elliott.

 

2022/23 - New Fountain Restoration Sub-Committee (comprising Paul Sowerbutts, Amanda Birch and Chris Chadwick) comes together to revisit possibilities of restoring St Paul's Fountain. Lottery application process has changed significantly and possibility of application looks more achievable.

 

2023 From-the-Thames-to-Eternity. Sub-committee comes to view that the project needs to be more than “making the Fountain work” again, and that the Park's upcoming centenary in 2026, Haringey year of culture in 2027 and Fountain's 150th anniversary should all come into consideration.

 

2023 – 2024 Lottery Application (Expression of Interest) x2

This included proposals to celebrate Priory Park Centenary 2026 (as part of CEF) and Haringey Year of Culture 2027 before Fountain refurbishment in 2028 /29 in preparation of the Fountain's 150th Birthday in 2030.

 

2025 (March) FoPP AGM – agreement to progress movement of Embankment Stones plus set up a Centenary Committee

 

2025 (August) - FoPP Committee Meeting agreed to progress launch event of unveiling of Embankment Stones in April to mark the start of the Centenary Year for unveiling of Embankment Stones

​​2025 Update

EMBANKMENT STONES FIND RETIREMENT HOME IN PRIORY PARK AFTER 150 YEARS OF HOLDING BACK THE RIVER THAMES

 

It was a case of history repeating itself in May when a Cornish granite gift from the City of London arrived in Priory Park:

 

• In 1909 the Penrose Fountain - made from 50 tons of Lamorna granite, was transported by horse and cart (financed by Hornsey Borough Council) from St Paul's Cathedral Churchyard to what was then the Middle Lane Pleasure Grounds.

• In 2025 four granite blocks were transported to Priory Park from St Benet's Welsh Church (between Blackfriars Bridge & St Pauls Cathedral) on the back of a HIAB Lorry (financed by Friends of Priory Park).   The stones had formerly resided in Joseph Bazalgette's 19th century Thames river wall at Victoria Embankment, but were removed as part of the Thames Tideway (Super Sewer) Project.​​​​

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