Buxton Memorial Fountain, Victoria Tower Gardens

Drinking fountain erected in 1865-6, designed by Samuel Sanders Teulon with what appears to have been considerable creative contribution from Charles Buxton. The fountain celebrates the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 and commemorates the achievements of Charles Buxton's father, Thomas Fowell Buxton, and his associates—William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson, Zachary Macaulay, Henry Brougham and Stephen Lushington—in bringing about the abolition of slavery throughout the British colonies.

The fountain is an elaborate and delicate Gothic pavilion constructed in limestone and granite with enamelled roof made by Skidmore, and mosaic decoration. It is octagonal in plan with pointed arched shafted openings and a pyramidal spire-roof of brightly enamelled iron with finial. Inside, four granite drinking basins are arranged around a central shaft. The fountain originally featured eight metal figures of British rulers by T. Earp positioned at eaves level, but these were stolen in 1960 and 1971. They were recast in 1980 but have since disappeared again.

The fountain no longer functions. It was originally erected in Parliament Square in 1865-6, possibly in connection with the abolition of slavery in America at that date. It is thought that Charles Buxton took over the project from the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain Association, which since 1859 had wished to build 'a costly and handsome fountain in Palace Yard'. By 1949 the fanciful Gothic design had few admirers, and it was removed when the Government redeveloped Parliament Square in preparation for the Festival of Britain. In 1957 the fountain was re-erected in Victoria Tower Gardens. The fountain was restored by the Royal Parks in 2007.

The original plaques were subsequently removed. Two new plaques have been added in the twentieth century. The plaque on the west side gives an incorrect date of 1835 for the fountain's erection, stating it was erected by Charles Buxton M.P. in commemoration of the emancipation of slaves in 1834 and in memory of his father Sir T. Fowell Buxton and his associates Wilberforce, Clarkson, Macaulay, Brougham, Dr Lushington and others. The plaque on the east side commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Anti-Slavery Society, 1839-1989.