Steble Fountain, Liverpool

The Steble Fountain is located on William Brown Street, immediately to the west of another famous Liverpool monument, Wellington’s Column. The fountain is named after Lieutenant Colonel Richard Fell Steble, a local army officer and former Mayor of Liverpool, who paid for the construction of a fountain on the site. Designed by Paul Lienard, it was unveiled in 1879, though low water pressure meant the opening ceremony was something of an anti-climax.

The Steble Fountain is formed from cast iron, and comprises a 30 foot circular basin, with a tower rising from its centre. At the top of the tower are statues of four marine gods - Neptune, Amphitrite, Acis and Galatea. As well as a natural accompaniment to the elaborate water feature below, this is a nod to the city’s rich maritime history and location, close to the Irish Sea. The fountain is 23 feet high, and is a Grade II* listed monument.

The water which flows through Steble Fountain is driven by an electric pump housed in the basement of nearby Saint George’s Hall. The original steam pump was replaced when the noise began to disrupt sessions in the hall’s court rooms. The fountain was restored in 1992 as part of the city’s preparations for its hosting of the Tall Ships Race.