The granite drinking fountain on the island north of St. Luke's Church and opposite the main entrance to West Norwood Cemetery was demolished in a car accident on Sunday 13 October 2024.

The drinking fountain is a memorial to local temperance campaigner Amelia Fawcett, who died in 1896 and is buried in the cemetery. The background to the late 1800's temperence movement was both progressive religion and politics, including female suffrage. The inscription states:

This fountain was erected in affectionate memory of Mrs Woodford Fawcett by many neighbours and friends who greatly valued her philanthropic and christian work. Erected by public subscription per G Shrubsall Esq £108.0.0. January 1899

The fountain was broken into its three constituent parts by the accident (grey polished granite plinth, pink granite bowl and pink granite obelisk), and is now in safe storage at a Lambeth Highways depot. There is some doubt that the costs of repair and reinstatement can be met from any motor insurance policy - the driver of the car concerned is said to have left the scene of the accident. In any case we hope the Council can fund the works and seek restitution later; the Council is considering if funds can be found. 

We have asked that consideration be given to installing some protection on the north side of the monument once it is reinstated​. The fountain had not been in working order before the accident, and a modern water fountain is situated outside the Library & Picturehouse. 

We have also asked for the road safety aspects for southbound traffic from Norwood Road/Robson Road traffic lights be reconsidered. Two lanes merge into one lane here and there are longstanding problems of speeding traffic on Norwood High Street and the rest of the West Norwood gyratory (Ernest Avenue and Knight’s Hill).

We will provide a further update once we have more news.

With thanks to local resident Paul Brewer for use of his photo of the aftermath of the accident