Dolphins or sturgeons?

Charles Henry Driver, hardly a household name, but you may be familiar with the wonderful ‘dolphin lamp-posts’ along the Victoria Embankment of the Thames. Designed by George Vulliamy, they were made by Charles Driver, the leading exponent of ornamental iron work at the time.

Question: are they dolphins? Or sturgeons? What do you think?

I came across Mr Driver again recently when visiting the Crossness pumping station by the Thames near Abbey Wood, developed for the Metropolitan Board of Works by Driver and the rather better-known Joseph Bazalgette. Although the pumping station was likely to be seen only by workers and anyone else involved in the process of sewage disposal, Bazalgette and Driver created an outstanding example of Victorian splendour with an attention to detail and artistic flair which makes for a very worthwhile visit.

Driver also designed Westhumble and Boxhill station in Surrey, and much of nearby Dorking town centre; plus stations in north-east London, Lancashire, the Midlands and East Anglia. And more stations in Argentine and Brazil! And the Slade drinking fountain in Kennington Park, London; an infirmary in Banbury; the West Pier Pavilion at Brighton; as well as contributing to the piers at Llandudno, Nice and Southend. He was aso involved in the design of the aquariums at the old Crystal Palace and in Vienna.

Any areas of the country I have not covered?! I hope at least one of these places is near you.

On a personal note he designed the Italianate Denmark Hill railway station near me here in south London and was buried in West Norwood cemetery just a couple of minutes from my home.

So, dolphins or sturgeons?!