The ‘Pump of Death’ | London Water Fountain That Started A Deadly Epidemic Claiming Hundreds Of Lives!
The ‘Aldgate Pump‘ stands at the intersection of Aldgate High Street, Fenchurch Street, and Leadenhall Street in London. It is a historic water pump with a wolf-shaped spout and an eerie story. This ordinary water pump was renamed “The Pump of Death,” following a deadly outbreak in 1876.
The Aldgate Pump was a well that was sourced by an underground stream in the 13th century. The water became known for being cool, bright, and sparkling. However, things took a turn and people drinking from the pump started dying. Hundreds of lives were claimed by what was recognized as the ‘Aldgate Pump epidemic‘. Today, the pump stands as both a cultural artifact and a symbol of a haunting memory.
Aldgate Pump Through the Ages
Origins and Early Mentions
The Aldgate Pump pre-dates almost all the drinking fountains in and around London. The story begins in the 13th century with the “Alegate Well,” a water source mentioned during King John’s reign. By the 16th century, the well was converted into a pump. As recorded by historian John Stow in his 1598 Survey of London, he described a “fair well where now a pump is placed.”
This pump became more than just a source of water. It marked the starting point for measuring distances from London to counties like Essex and Middlesex. Milestones across these regions referenced the pump as a central point of orientation.
The phrase “Past Aldgate Pump” came to signify entering the East End of London. It was notorious for its lawlessness in earlier times. Travelers venturing past the pump often felt a sense of unease, as folklore warned of dangers lurking in the East End.
Contaminated By The Bones Of The Dead
The water from the pump was praised for being “bright, sparkling, and cool, and of an agreeable taste.” By the mid-19th century, London’s water pumps were under scrutiny for contamination. However, the water was actually contaminated by calcium from the bones of the dead and decaying organic matter from the graveyards.
Dr. Letherby, a health officer, revealed in 1861 that Aldgate Pump’s water contained pollutants from decomposing sewage and runoff from cemeteries. The Times vividly described it as water tainted with “bodily emissions” and particles from the city’s graveyards. The infamous “Aldgate Pump Epidemic” affected many near Broad Street, now Broadwick Street, in Soho, London. According to reports, several hundred were killed by the contaminated water.
Despite such warnings, many East End residents believed in the water’s medicinal properties, calling it a “sovereign remedy for many ailments.” This faith persisted even as public health officials deemed the water hazardous. Canon Samuel Barnett, a reformist vicar, eventually tested the pump’s water and found it dangerously polluted. This led to its water source being switched to the New River Company’s cleaner supply in 1876.
The Cholera Scare
According to some reports, the story originated from confusion with the Broad Street Pump cholera outbreak of 1854, a well-documented epidemic traced to contaminated water. With its gruesome past of causing a cholera outbreak in 1876, the pump gained the nickname ‘Pump of Death.’
The 1866 cholera outbreak in East London was linked to the River Lea, polluted by sewage from surrounding counties. William Farr, a pioneering epidemiologist, identified the river as the source, absolving the Aldgate Pump of blame.
Approximately, over 600 people were killed by its contaminated water. The outbreak became a worldwide cholera pandemic and lasted from 1846–1860.
@zackdfilms92 The Pump Of Death 😨
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Transformation and Preservation: The Aldgate Pump Today
Restoration and Modern Changes
The Aldgate Pump underwent significant transformations over the years. In 1876, its water source was replaced with safer mains water, ensuring public health. The pump received another facelift in 2019, restoring its stonework and reinstating the iconic lamp that once adorned its top.
Architectural Features
One of the pump’s most striking features is the wolf’s head spout, commemorating the last wolf killed in the City of London. The pump’s design is a blend of elements from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, with Grade II listed status securing its place as a historical landmark.
Famous Mentions
The Aldgate Pump didn’t go unnoticed in literature. It appeared in works by Charles Dickens, including Nicholas Nickleby and Dombey and Son. Dickens described it as a landmark leading into the East End. It described its role in the cultural fabric of Victorian London.
The pump also inspired phrases like “a draft on the Aldgate Pump,” a slang term for a worthless cheque or banknote. This playful saying referred to the pump’s water, which, though refreshing, held no financial value. On the other hand, the saying “better than the Aldgate Pump” denoted financial stability.
Conclusions
The Aldgate Pump serves as a reminder of London’s public health struggles and the progress made since those perilous times. It also stands as a testament to how folklore and historical artifacts shape our understanding of the past.
If you ever find yourself in London, take a moment to visit the Aldgate Pump. Reflect on its layered history—from its role as a water source to its infamous myths—and let it transport you to a time when a simple pump symbolized survival, change, and resilience.
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