Queen Victoria Wall Fountain

Location: London, Surrey, England

In the grounds of Hampton Court Palace a 19th-century drinking fountain is set into the border wall of the Broad Walk which is in front of the eastern façade of the palace. It was installed soon after Queen Victoria opened the Palace and Gardens to the public in 1838.

Source: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/65965309

The fountain was manufactured by Coalbrookdale Company of Shropshire (casting #106) from a design by William and Thomas Wills of Suffolk. The brothers were noted sculptors in the mid 19^th century and best known for their designs of drinking fountains.

The cast iron frame is in the form of a stylized shield with curved edges. The top part of the shield forms a lunette displaying the crowned head of Queen Victoria; beneath is a recessed trefoil arch which contains the drinking well. A shell situated in the interior of the arch dispersed water into the basin below. A metal cup was chained to the right side of the shield. On either side of the well are seated putti holding daffodils on high whilst resting on acanthus foliage.

Two inscriptions were engraved: on the arch, Wills Brothers Sculpt London; and on the lower edge of the structure, Cast By The Coalbrookdale Co.

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/52044787@N05/5159678200

Glossary

• Acanthus, one of the most common plant forms (deeply cut leaves) to make foliage ornament and decoration
• Lunette, the half-moon shaped space framed by an arch, often containing a window or painting
• Putto (plural is Putti), a figure in a work of art depicted as a chubby male child, usually nude
• Trefoil, An ornamental design of three rounded lobes

 

Mercado del Puerto Drinking Fountain

Location: Montevideo, Uruguay

A cast iron drinking fountain situated just outside the iron gates of the market (Mercado del Puerto) was installed in 1897.

Seated on a two tiered circular plinth, the canopy is a modification of design number 3 from Geo Smith & Co.’s Sun Foundry. Standing 9 feet 10 inches high, the structure consists of four columns with obelisk finials that support a domed canopy. The interior column connectors to the dome are adorned with flowers and leafy decoration.

Source: https://hiveminer.com/Tags/meat,montevideo

Arch faceplates with drip fret detail offer a flat surface for inscriptions in raised metal letters; civic virtues such as temperance were extolled on many drinking fountains. Over each arch, cartouches within each lunette display the coat of arms for the city of Montevideo.

The solid dome with a flat finial may have supported a lantern which is now missing. The font, design number 12 with a central pedestal is surrounded by four small pillars. The base has a maker’s plate attached. The 2 ft 9” wide basin has dog tooth design on the rim, and is partitioned by four foliate consoles from which cups were suspended on chains. The structure is surmounted with a ball terminal.

Source: https://hiveminer.com/Tags/meat,montevideo

Glossary:

• Cartouche, a structure or figure, often in the shape of an oval shield or oblong scroll, used as an architectural or graphic ornament or to bear a design or inscription
• Console, a decorative bracket support element
• Finial, A sculptured ornament fixed to the top of a peak, arch, gable or similar structure
• Foliate, decorated with leaves or leaf like motif
• Fret, Running or repeated ornament
• Lunette, the half-moon shaped space framed by an arch, often containing a window or painting
• Obelisk, A tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top
• Pedestal, an architectural support for a column or statue
• Plinth, flat base usually projecting, upon which a pedestal, wall or column rests.
• Terminal, statue or ornament that stands on a pedestal

 

Hawkhead Cemetery Fountain

Location: Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland

The cast iron drinking fountain located in Hawkhead Cemetery was presented by Provost Archibald Mackenzie of Milliken in July 1891 following the opening of the cemetery. It was repainted in 2009.

Creative Commons License, Lairich Rig. Source: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3609235

Used with permission, David Cameron. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/its-all-pretty-cool_dot-com/10197740596/in/pool-paisleydailyexpress

The canopied drinking fountain is design number 20, an elaborate 18 feet by 4 feet fountain, sold by Walter Macfarlane & Co. and manufactured at the Saracen Foundry, Possilpark, Glasgow, Scotland. Seated on a triple octagonal plinth, the open filigree canopy is supported by eight columns with griffin terminals which are positioned over capitals with foliage frieze above square bases.

The highly decorated drip cusped arches are trimmed with rope mouldings. Cartouches contained within each lunette display images of cranes and two shields containing the coat of arms of the Corporation of Paisley, and a dedication shield; Presented by Archibald Mackenzie Esq. of Milliken to the Corporation of Paisley for Hawkhead Cemetery July 1891.

Creative Commons License, Lairich Rig. Source: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3609235

On each side arch faceplates provide a flat surface for an inscription using raised metal letters; often the useful monition, Keep the pavement dry. Civic virtues such as temperance were often extolled in inscriptions on drinking fountains.

Doves and flowers offer decorative relief on the circular, ribbed dome. Inside the dome are lion mascarons and the internal capitals support statues of owls seated on enlarged column heads. The structure is surmounted with an eagle finial.

Creative Commons License, Lairich Rig. Source: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3609235

Under the canopy stands the font (design number 18.) A circular shaft, ornamented with water lilies, rests on a wide base with canted corners. Four lion jambs support four highly decorated quatrefoil basins. Rising from the centre is a pyramid shaped stanchion decorated with swan and bird decoration. A kylix-shaped lamp terminal with four consoles offer drinking cups suspended by chains.

Creative Commons License, Lairich Rig. Source: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3609235

Symbolism was popular in Victorian times. Griffins are symbolic of guardians of priceless possessions; lions are symbolic of guardianship; doves are synonymous with peace, and owls are symbolic of guardians of the afterlife. Cranes are recognized as a symbol of vigilance and are often depicted standing on one leg while holding a stone in the claws of the other foot. Legend states that if the watchful crane fell asleep the stone would fall and waken the bird.

Glossary

• Canted corner, an angled surface which cuts of a corner
• Capital, the top of a column that supports the load bearing down on it
• Cartouche, a structure or figure, often in the shape of an oval shield or oblong scroll, used as an architectural or graphic ornament or to bear a design or inscription
• Console, a decorative bracket support element
• Cusped Arch, the point of intersection of lobed or scalloped forms
• Filigree, fine ornamental work
• Finial, a sculptured ornament fixed to the top of a peak, arch, gable or similar structure
• Frieze, the horizontal part of a classical moulding just below the cornice, often decorated with carvings
• Griffin, winged lion denotes vigilance and strength, guards treasure and priceless possessions
• Jamb, a projecting vertical post containing sculpture
• Kylix, a Grecian style drinking cup
• Lunette, the half-moon shaped space framed by an arch, often containing a window or painting
• Mascaron, a decorative element in the form of a sculpted face or head of a human being or an animal
• Plinth, flat base usually projecting, upon which a pedestal, wall or column rests
• Quatrefoil, a type of decorative framework consisting of a symmetrical shape which forms the overall outline of four partially-overlapping circles of the same diameter
• Stanchion, upright bar or post providing support
• Terminal, statue or ornament that stands on a pedestal

 

Glossary:

 

Market Square Fountain

Location: Galashiels, Scottish Borders, Scotland

A drinking fountain/horse trough structure erected in 1882 and originally located in Market Square was removed in 1920 to accommodate the creation of a bus station.

Source: Facebook/Bygone Galashiels

Source: Facebook/Bygone Galashiels

Circa 1901. Source: Facebook/Old Gala Club

The fountain was relocated to Tweed Crescent in 1933 where the base which included the drinking basins was encompassed in masonry, and the gas lantern atop the fountain was converted to electricity.

Tweed Crescent electric light

Repair was scheduled by the Scottish Borders Council in 2011 to remove decades of deterioration due to rust. During removal of the masonry, the drinking basins originally attached to the light source were revealed. Repair of the lamp post then became a restoration project made possible with the assistance of Old Gala Club and the Scottish Borders Council’s (SBC) financed with pay parking money raised in Galashiels.

Source: Border Telegraph

The Ballantine Bo’ness Iron Company restored the lamp column and Sugg Lighting Company of Horsham (manufacturing company of the original triple lantern) was commissioned to recreate the light feature. A local company, Finlaysons, repainted the lamp post in red and gold.

 

Creative Commons License, Walter Baxter. Source: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2334449

Used with permission, John P. Bolton, Scottish Ironworks Fedration

The drinking fountain was created using lamp standard design number 28 offered by W. T. Allen & Co. of London. Three demi-lune basins were attached to a compass cross on each side of the square base into which lion mascarons spouted water. A large horse trough originally attached to the fourth side has been lost. Each basin is flanked with palmette and acanthus relief.

Creative Commons License, Walter Baxter. Source: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2334458

A frieze of acanthus is situated beneath the capital upon which there is a lamp pedestal. Each corner of the pedestal contains an open mouthed griffin alternated with a sculpture of fruit. (Symbolism was popular in Victorian times; griffins represented guardians of priceless possessions). The lamp pillar with floral bas-relief extends into a banded, fluted column. The terminal is a candelabrum of 3 glass lanterns extending from elaborate consoles.

Used with permission, John P. Bolton, Scottish Ironwork Foundation

A small plaque on the base is inscribed with the name of a supplier of gas fittings; J Milne & Son, Milton House, Edinburgh.

Glossary:

• Acanthus, one of the most common plant forms (deeply cut leaves) to make foliage ornament and decoration
• Bas-relief, sculpted material that has been raised from the background to create a slight projection from the surface
• Capital, the top of a column that supports the load bearing down on it
• Compass cross, a cross of equal vertical and horizontal lengths, concentric with and overlaying a circle.
• Console, a decorative bracket support element
• Demi-lune, half moon or crescent shape
• Fluted Shaft, a long rounded groove decorating the shaft of a column Frieze, the horizontal part of a classical moulding just below the cornice, often decorated with carvings
• Mascaron, a decorative element in the form of a sculpted face or head of a human being or an animal
• Palmette, a decorative motif resembling the fan shaped leaves of a palm tree
• Pedestal, an architectural support for a column or statue
• Relief, a sculptural technique to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background
• Terminal, statue or ornament that stands on a pedestal