A statue of the ‘Plumber’s Apprentice’ at Cannon Street Station. The seven-foot tall, bronze statue has been built to represent the industry’s history with London and the company’s commitment to training young plumbers. The word “plumber” dates from the Roman Empire. Roman roofs used lead in conduits and drain pipes and some were also covered with lead; lead was also used for piping and for making baths. The Latin for lead is plumbum. In medieval times, anyone who worked with lead was referred to as a plumber; this can be seen from an extract about workmen fixing a roof in Westminster Palace; they were referred to as plumbers: “To Gilbert de Westminster, plumber, working about the roof of the pantry of the little hall, covering it with lead, and about various defects in the roof of the little hall”. Thus a person with expertise in working with lead was first known as a Plumbarius which was later shortened to plumber.