| Summary: | Description: Drinking fountain standing within a large octagonal shelter with eight pillars, a roof and no walls. The fountain stands towards the north side of the structure and comprises a large circular basin on an octagonal pedestal, set on top of a square block. The basin is solid and quartered, with two sloping basins cut into the east and west sides of the flat top surface, and a small shallow round basin cut into the south side. The fountain is made of concrete with white chippings in it, and has a stone block across the top forming a bridge across the channel between the two basins. The inscription is on the top surface on the north side. Some brass pipes under the bridges, and a tap, but other fittings all missing. The whole stands on a shallow base, an oblong shape with rounded ends, with a step at one end and a trough at the other. The shelter is a substantial structure, an octagonal pavilion with eight Doric concrete columns at the angles, supporting a wood-lined tiled roof with a wooden cupola on top. This is cube-shaped and has a weathervane on top comprising just the pointers. The faces of the cupola are painted but very faded: NW - a tree; NE - a mountain(?); SE - clipper ship; SW - unable to decipher. Believe they are local scenes painted in 1979.(1) Additional Information: Commemorates Andrew Gibb, born 12 August 1850 in Glasgow, died 10 April 1908, Blackheath, a local ship-repairer and benefactor. Ship-repairer and local philanthropist who lived at Garthlands in Westcombe Park. The son of a builder in Glasgow, he served an eight year apprenticeship at Curle and Co., a firm of engineers and shipbuilders on the Clyde, after which he went to sea as an engineer. He came to London as Chief Draughtsman at Ryde and Co., Millwall, and then became general manager at Rait and Gardiner, engineers and ship repairers who had premises along the Thames. He became managing partner of the firm, energetically expanding the business but, as stated in his obituary in the local paper, at the expense of his health. He was a member of several professional bodies and guilds in the ship-repairing and marine engineering world, including the Institute of Naval Architects, vice-president of the Society of Marine Engineers and a freeman of both London and Glasgow. His obituary describes him as a ‘a most liberal employer', and he was well known as a generous benefactor both to individuals and to local causes, although it also states that he took as much satisfaction from refusing money to ‘humbugs' as of giving large sums to worthy causes! He was deacon of St Mark's Presbyterian Church in Greenwich and benefactor to that church. As an Alderman of the first Borough Council of Greenwich he donated a mayor's badge and chain valued at around £500. Although an active and energetic man he was dogged by poor health in his later years. He is buried with his wife in Charlton Cemetery.
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