Drinking Fountain To West Of Saltgrass Public House

The drinking fountain, located to the west of the Saltgrass Public House, was built in 1893 as a gift from John Laing to the people of Deptford. It commemorates his father, Philip Laing, and the founding of Laing's shipbuilding yard in 1793. The fountain features a granite column with a cast-iron basin and tap surround. The column is tapered and square, standing on a stepped square base that includes semicircular niches for dog drinking basins. The west face has a round-headed niche with a lion mask tap surround above a projecting fluted basin, with the dates 1793 and 1893 inscribed in circles at the top corners. The east face bears an inscription acknowledging the gift. Originally, the fountain was topped with a female figure, which has since been removed. It was relocated to its current position from the center of the road.