bᵻfˌoːɹ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti θɹˈiː, ðə sˈaɪt wˌɛɹ ðə sˈɛnətˌæf nˈaʊ stˈændz wʌz ˈɑːkjʊpˌaɪd baɪ ɐn ɔːɹnˈeɪt dɹˈɪŋkɪŋ fˈaʊntɪn wˌɪtʃ wʌz ɪɹˈɛktᵻd ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti sˈɛvən tə mˈɑːɹk ðə kəmplˈiːʃən ʌvðə wˈɔːɾɚ wˈɜːks ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti sˈɪks.
Before 1923, the site where the Cenotaph now stands was occupied by an ornate drinking fountain which was erected in 1867 to mark the completion of the Water Works in 1866.