Across from the old Public Library, stands one of Bridgetown's most graceful Victorian monuments. The Montefiore Fountain carries no running water, and it hasn't for a long time. Nonetheless, it holds a place in the city's story as a gift of gratitude, grief and civic generosity.

A Son's Memorial to His Father

The fountain was presented to the people of Bridgetown by John Montefiore as a tribute to his father, John Castello Montefiore. The elder Montefiore was a well-established merchant in the city, and unfortunately he was also among the earliest victims of a cholera epidemic that swept Barbados in the mid-19^th century.

Clean drinking water was a suitable way to honour a man lost to a waterborne disease. The fountain was opened to the public on 2^nd November 1865, offering refreshment to anyone passing through the busy capital city.

The Fountain's Design

The design came from John Francis Bentley, the English architect who later became famous for the Byzantine-style Westminster Cathedral in London. His drawings, now held in the collections of the Royal Institute of British Architects, show an ornate cast-iron structure in the Gothic Revival style. Contemporary observers praised its elegance, and it was unrivalled by anything else in Barbados at the time.

Prominent Gothic Revival (Neo-Gothic) architectural elements on the monument include pointed arches, allegorical figures, geometric multicoloured tile patterns, and inscribed banderoles.

The four sides of the monument represent four classical virtues (with accompanying inscriptions). Together they turn a practical public utility into a quiet lesson in civic character.
Justice: Do wrong to no one
Fortitude: To bear is to conquer
Temperance: Be sober-minded
Prudence: Look to the end

A Fountain on the Move

The fountain did not always stand where visitors find it today. It was first erected on Lower Broad Street, then moved to its present Coleridge Street site in 1940. Over the decades it stopped functioning as a drinking fountain, and many now consider "Montefiore Monument" a more accurate name.

Part of Bridgetown's Living Heritage

The Montefiore Fountain sits in a part of the city rich in Jewish heritage. It stands between the Nidhe Israel Synagogue and the former Public Library, within the Synagogue Historic District.

It also lies within Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison, which UNESCO inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2011. The fountain is one of the monuments cited as evidence of the area's distinctive built heritage.

Visiting The Montefiore Fountain

Walking tours of Bridgetown are a wonderful way to explore our fascinating capital city.

What People Typically Ask 🤔

Where is the Montefiore Fountain?

It sits on Coleridge Street in Bridgetown, facing the former Public Library and close to the Nidhe Israel Synagogue and the Synagogue Historic District.

Who built the Montefiore Fountain, and why?

John Montefiore gave it to the city in memory of his father, John Castello Montefiore, a Bridgetown merchant who died during a cholera outbreak. Fresh drinking water was a fitting tribute.

Who designed it?

English architect John Francis Bentley, who later designed Westminster Cathedral in London. His fountain drawings are held in the RIBA collections.

What style is it?

It is a cast-iron Gothic Revival structure, and in the 1860s it had few counterparts in Barbados.

When did it open?

On 2 November 1865.

Does water still flow from it?

No. It stopped serving as a drinking fountain long ago, so many people call it the Montefiore Monument.

Has it always stood on Coleridge Street?

No. It was first installed at Beckwith Place on Lower Broad Street and moved to its current location in 1940

What do the figures on the fountain represent?

Four virtues: Justice, Fortitude, Temperance and Prudence.

Can I visit it?

The fountain is in the open on a public street, so you can view it from the outside at any time. Check opening hours separately for the synagogue and museum nearby.