Fort William Fountain/Horse Trough

Location: Fort William, West Highlands, Scotland

Fort William was supplied with incandescent street lighting in 1896. Two lights were incorporated into horse troughs one of which also contained a drinking fountain for humans. Photographic images show it at the junction of High Street and Station Square on March 5, 1897. It was no longer present in photographs dated 1956.

1897

Source: http://www.ambaile.org.uk

Source: https://ironworks.scran.ac.uk/database/record.php?usi=000-002-001-069-C&scache=4lt5aahiug&searchdb=ironworks_scran

The structure was design #80 manufactured by Walter Macfarlane & Co. in the Saracen´s foundry, Glasgow. It was advertised as well suited for Street Crossings, Squares, Market Places, etc., as it afforded drinking accommodation for a large number of horses and drivers, and effectively lit a wide space, with the least possible obstruction to other traffic. It was 12ft 9ins high providing a circular cast iron basin supported on legs in the form of horses’ hooves. The water was regulated by a small patent cistern, which was self-acting, and when the troughs were full the ball rose and shut the water off.

The central stanchion with attic base supported a central fluted column and the option of a shield for inscription. Four projecting consoles suspended cups on chains that allowed humans to drink from spouting water (the water flow was operated with two bib valves which released water when pressed). A bulbous form engraved with acanthus bas-relief demarcated the transformation of the column into a lamp pillar with lantern. Yoke maintenance arms were positioned beneath the lantern.

Glossary

• Acanthus, one of the most common plant forms (deeply cut leaves) to make foliage ornament and decoration
• Attic base, a column base with two rings
• Console, a decorative bracket support element
• Fluted Shaft, a long rounded groove decorating the shaft of a column
• Stanchion, an upright bar or post providing support
• Yoke maintenance arms, the bars near the top of the street light which supported the lamplighter’s ladder

 

St. Paul’s Church Drinking Fountain

Location: Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, England

This mid 19^th century cast iron drinking fountain is set into a niche of the sandstone wall at the Church of St. Paul in Whitley Bay.

The church was built on land donated by the Duke of Northumberland in 1864. The fountain was installed at the cost of the builder and gifted to the inhabitants of Whitley Bay. The Duchess of Northumberland, Charlotte Florentia Percy, presided over the ceremony. She was once a governess of the future Queen Victoria and died two years after the dedication of the fountain. She is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Prior to the restoration of the fountain by Team Force Restoration of Blyth, the fountain was in an advanced state of decay which obliterated details required for refurbishment. A roundel contains a crescent most likely in recognition of the Duke and Duchess’ family crest.

Source: https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101355006-drinking-fountain-east-of-church-of-st-paul-whitley-bay-ward/photos/38517#.XbAVLyhKgk8

Source: https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101355006-drinking-fountain-east-of-church-of-st-paul-whitley-bay-ward/photos/38517#.XbAVLyhKgk8

Source: https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101355006-drinking-fountain-east-of-church-of-st-paul-whitley-bay-ward/photos/38517#.XbAVLyhKgk8

A similar design located in the wall at the war museum on Burdon Road in Sunderland has a roundel which bears the coat of arms of the city of Sunderland. This item has been researched and can be viewed at https://memorialdrinkingfountains.wordpress.com/2017/08/18/fawcett-street-station-drinking-fountain/

The manufacturer of this drinking fountain is unknown. The recessed arch once hosted a demi-lune basin from which water was dispersed into the basin via a spigot situated in the interior of the arch. It was most likely gathered into a metal cup suspended on a chain. The arch faceplate hosts a roundel bearing a crescent surmounted by a scroll design.

The fountain was recorded as a Grade II Historic Building on 19 February 1986.

Glossary

• Demi-lune, half moon or crescent shape
• Roundel, a small circular decorative plate
• Spigot, a device that controls the flow of liquid

 

Chief Si?al Fountain

Location: Seattle, WA, USA

A drinking fountain located between 2^nd and 3^rd Avenues in Renton (a suburb of Seattle) was presented to the city in 1910 by the local fire department. The idea for an ornamental watering fountain for animals came in 1908 as the City of Seattle was making improvements for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition of 1909. At this time James Wehn was sculpting a full length statue of Chief Seattle of the Suquamish tribe to be erected at Tilikum Place. The city commissioned Wehn to make a bronze cast of the bust to be set in the fountain. It became the first sculpture of Chief Seattle to be sited in Seattle. The drinking fountain sculpture is currently located in Pioneer Square.

Source: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMG68J_Chief_of_the_Suquamish_Chief_Seattle_Seattle_WA

Inscriptions show the manufacturer: Cast by/Cascade Fixture Co. and the foundry, Star Foundry – Seattle, WA. The sculptor is recognized as James Wehn, and the subject, Chief Of The Suquamish. The fountain itself has been restored, while the statue remains original.

The Chief was of valuable service to white settlers who pronounced his name as Seattle. The misrepresentation of his name is explained on this website  A stone monument in the Indian burial ground at the west end of Main Street identifies Chief Seattle’s grave. An inscription states, Seattle, Chief Of The Suqamish And Allied Tribes, Died June 7, 1866, The Firm Friend Of The Whites And For Him The City Of Seattle Was Named By Its Founders. On scout anniversary day in late February, a ceremony is conducted by Boy Scouts alongside his grave.

The fountain is seated within a circular basin and the base is rectangular in shape with two small troughs for dogs. The bust of Chief Seattle sits atop a representation of rock/mountain which rises from within a large basin decorated with reeds. A bubbler type tap located at the back of the statue delivered water to humans and a spigot originally jutting out beneath the basin allowed for the release of overflow water.  An image dated 1936 appears to show a plaque which no longer exists beneath the bust of the Chief.

Courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives #10642

A similar fountain minus the bust of the Chief was installed at 7^th and Jackson in Seattle on 27 March 1911. It no longer exists.

Courtesy of the Seattle Municipal Archives #52097