Dedicated to Captain Robert Hansler J.P., this fountain has quite the story. The Captain Robert Hansler J.P. Fountain stands as a testament to Victorian values. It also highlights the fight against disease.
Let’s step back to the 19th century. London’s water supply was often contaminated. Cholera outbreaks were common. People often preferred alcohol. They thought it safer than water.
The Metropolitan Free Drinking Fountain Association was founded in 1859. Samuel Gurney and Edward Thomas Wakefield created it. They wanted to provide clean drinking water. Their goal was to combat waterborne diseases. They also hoped to reduce public drunkenness.
The association later became the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association. It provided troughs for animals. These troughs often stood near the drinking fountains.
This particular fountain honors Captain Robert Hansler J.P. He was a magistrate for Middlesex. He also served as a Captain in the Essex Rifles Militia. Born in 1811, Robert Hansler was the son of Sir John Jacob Hansler. Sir John was physician to the royal family. Queen Victoria knighted him.
Captain Robert Hansler’s life wasn’t all military. Records show he enjoyed the social aspects of his role. He attended hunts and balls. He was at many London Militia Officers’ events.
Marianne Collis became Robert Hansler’s wife in 1838. They lived in Tavistock Square. Hansler passed away in 1877. Marianne, his widow, erected this fountain in his memory.
The inscription reads: “This fountain and trough were erected in memory of Capt. Robert Hansler J.P. for Middlesex by his widow, May 1877.”
Interestingly, during the fountain’s restoration in 2018, workers found a reused headstone. It was inscribed with the name “Mr. James Wakelin.” He died in 1817. The origin of this headstone remains a mystery.
The Captain Robert Hansler J.P. Fountain originally included a cattle trough. It was moved to Battle Bridge in 1897. An 1895 map shows a urinal also stood here.
After years of disuse, the fountain was restored in 2018. Today it dispenses free, clean drinking water. It serves as a reminder of Victorian philanthropy. It also shows the importance of public health.
So next time you need refreshment near St Pancras Station, remember Captain Robert Hansler. His legacy lives on through this fountain. It offers a cool drink and a glimpse into London’s past.