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Cholera Pump

Inscription

The Soho Cholera Epidemic.
Doctor John Snow (1813-1858) a noted anaesthetist lived near the focus of the 1854 Soho cholera epidemic which centred on Broad Street, as Broadwick Street was then called. In September of that year alone, over 500 people died in Soho from the disease. Snow had studied cholera in the 1848-9 epidemic in Southwark and Wandsworth. His theory that polluted drinking water was the source of transmission of the disease was confirmed when he mapped cholera deaths in Soho with the source of the victim's drinking water. He found that they were concentrated on the Broad Street public water pump. His theory initially met with some disbelief but such was his conviction that he had the pump handle removed to prevent its further use. Soon afterwards the outbreak ended.
The original pump is believed to have been situated outside the nearby 'Sir John Snow' Public House.
This water pump was unveiled by Councillor David Weeks Leader of Westminster City Council on 20 July 1992. It marks a pioneering example of medical research in the service of public health. The placement of this artefact and associated environmental improvements in Broadwick Street have been generously supported by Lynton plc.
City of Westminster

Still, this pump has no handle.

Site: John Snow Public House (3 memorials)

W1, Broadwick Street

When we first published this c.2009, the pump was on the north-east corner of the Broadwick Street / Poland Street junction. 2018: reported that the pump has been reinstalled, so we took a new photo.

Credit for this entry to: Bob Baker

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Cholera Pump

Subjects commemorated i

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Cholera Pump

Created by i

Westminster City Council

The ancient parish of St Margaret's was divided into St Margaret's and St Joh...

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David Weeks

David Weeks is a former Conservative Leader of Westminster City Council and s...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Cholera Pump

Also at this site i

Dr John Snow - RSC plaque

Dr John Snow - RSC plaque

RSC - advancing the chemical sciences National Chemical Landmark Dr John Snow...

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Dr John Snow - site of pump

Dr John Snow - site of pump

The red granite kerbstone marks the site of the historic Broad Street pump as...

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Nearby Memorials

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Plinth for lost sculpture

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See here for another sad empty plinth.

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Mo Farah gold post box - Teddington

Mo Farah gold post box - Teddington

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Entrance to the Henriette Raphael building

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On the afternoon of Friday 13th March 2015, a fire started in the Grand Hall. This steel truss had held up the structure for 122 years. W...

1 subject commemorated