Bryant & May Testimonial Fountain plaque

Bryant & May Testimonial Fountain Plaque

The Bryant & May Testimonial Fountain was a Victorian monument erected in 1872 to commemorate the successful campaign against a proposed match tax. In 1871, Chancellor of the Exchequer Robert Lowe proposed a halfpenny tax per box on matches, which led to widespread protests from match workers and manufacturers. The tax was eventually abandoned, and the fountain was built to honor the role of Bryant & May and their employees in this victory. (ianvisits.co.uk)

Designed by architect Rowland Plumbe, the fountain featured three drinking fountains and a marble statue of Justice seated on a throne, all in an Early Gothic style. The structure was constructed from Bristol blue penant stone and Portland stone, with red Mansfield columns and pilasters. The fountain was unveiled on October 5, 1872, with a ceremony attended by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Sydney H. Waterlow, and other dignitaries. (matchgirls1888.org)

The fountain was located near Bow Church station, opposite the original Bow Church station, which was later replaced by the Bow Church DLR station. In 1953, the fountain was demolished during road widening, and a plaque was installed nearby to commemorate its original location. (ianvisits.co.uk)

The Bryant & May factory, known as the Fairfield Works, was a significant industrial site in the area. At its peak in 1911, it employed over 2,000 women and girls. The factory was the site of the Matchgirls Strike in 1888, a pivotal event in labor history. The factory closed in 1979, and the building is now a gated private apartment complex known as the Bow Quarter. (londonremembers.com)

Today, the plaque serves as a reminder of the fountain and the historical significance of the area in the fight against the match tax.