London's first drinking fountain - sight, which is easy to miss. At the corner of Holborn Viaduct and Gilspurt Street stands the church of the Holy Sepulchre, and its fence mounted this same fountain, marked the beginning of a very important for the health of Londoners campaign.

In the XIX century "father Thames" (Thames Londoners imagine a man) is contaminated to such an extent that from the suspicious brown water goes a real stink. Summer 1858 even went down in history as the Great Stink of London. Indicative case in 1878 with the steamship "Princess Alice" - he sank, and most of the 600 passengers reached the shore, but died, poisoned river water. In the middle of the century in London cholera was raging, and people continued to use the water from the Thames. Of course, the problem really solved the construction of sewage, but it began to save lives drinking fountains.

A private organization under the touching name of "Association of the capital's drinking fountains and drinking bowls for cattle" set a goal to give people and animals free clean water. At the same time it was an attempt to fight against alcoholism - for many alcohol was the only alternative to the dirty river water. Therefore, in 1859 the first fountain put in front of the pub. The fountain still lie two metal plates on chains and striking reminder inscription: "Give a cup in place."

Construction soon gained immense popularity they enjoyed before 7000 people a day, and over the next six years, the association has built another 85 fountains for people and livestock. Some still exist - so, in Surrey-Keyes Road, across from the park King Georges Field, you can see a stone trough for cattle (it is now commonly used by the flowerbed). There were a lot around Smithfield meat market, where cows and horses were brought from the neighboring districts. These drinkers were so important that issue special cards which stated their position.

Charles Dickens, Jr. wrote in the "Dictionary of London" that quenches the thirst of a drinker 1800 horses a day, and the number of people who used the fountains on a hot summer day, reached 300 thousand.

When the time came bottled water, these devices have been forgotten. Now, however, revived the idea of ​​a free drink, and again set the fountains throughout the city. Mayor of London Boris Johnson says that London tap water - the best in the world. In addition, plastic bottles environmentally unfriendly.

Johnson certainly right - the Thames, which is still in 1957, was declared biologically dead, reborn to life and is now considered one of the cleanest metropolitan rivers. It is inhabited by 125 species of fish, a lot of waterfowl, marsh and sea birds and even seals and otters.