Erection date: 1971
HIC JUSSERE PATRES SODALITATIS WESTMONASTERIENSIS ESSE FONTEM, CUJUS DENT HILARES AQUAE JOHANNI CARLETON ARCHIDIDASCALO SALUTEM : HIC USQUE A PUERO SCHOLAM FOVEBAT, OMNES ORDINE GESSIT HIC HONORES. QUIBUS PAR ERAT OMNIBUS SUPRAQUE; HUIC SEMPER SCHOLA GRATIAS REFERTO. A. S. MCMLXXI
{This Latin translates as:}
Here the fathers of the Society of Westminster School ordered there to be a fountain whose cheerful waters might give health to the headteacher John Carleton. He supported the school from childhood and he kept all offices in order. He always went beyond what was required. May the school always give thanks to him. 1971 AD
Our grateful thanks once again to our Latin Consultant, David Hopkins. Yes, one can use Google Translate but it gets a lot wrong. David resolved all our queries. In particular: ARCHIDIDASCALUS/O is actually head teacher, not archbishop (are you taking notes, Google Translate?) and "Westminster" originally meant "western monastery"; the Latin word "Westmonasteriensis" keeps the original spelling.
This plaque was erected the year after Carleton retired from his role as Head Master of Westminster School, following 13 years in post.
Site: George V Jubilee, John Carleton and some graffiti (3 memorials)
SW1, Little Dean's Yard, Westminster School
Our photo captures a bit of the heavily-graffitied Burlington Arch, on the left.
The fountain seems to have been erected/dedicated twice, once in 1935 for the royal jubilee and again in 1971 to celebrate the long headship of John Carleton. Perhaps in 1971 the pre-existing fountain was modified in some significant way.
Little Dean's Yard is at the centre of the School and is known there as simply "Yard".
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