The drinking fountain in St. Helen’s Road Park on Knowsley Road was installed in the late 19th century as part of the public park design. It was recorded as a Grade II listing by Historic England on 11-Apr-1994.
Calibre Metalwork was hired by West Lancashire Borough Council to restore the fountain and to replicate a missing support from the corona. It was cleaned, painted and reinstalled in 2013.
Pattern #48 from Walter MacFarlane’s Saracen Foundry catalogue is seated on an octagonal base from which four pilasters support a basin, the rim of which is decorated with floral motifs. The base and the bowl are stamped with the trade mark, Walter Macfarlane, Glasgow, Saracen Foundry. Four arced stems projected above the basin form an open fretwork corona. The 6ft high fountain terminates with a decorative spike. Originally water delivered by a central and two side spouts was captured in a drinking cup suspended by a chain.
In the early 20th century a cast iron drinking fountain with twin globes was installed in Interlaken Park at the west entrance. Known as the Bagley Light, it was situated at an overlook with views of Portage Bay and the Cascades. All that remains is the original dedication plate which is mounted on a large rock. In Memory Of Herman Beardsley Bagley / The First Homeopathic Physician And / Surgeon In The State Of Washington / Also One Of The Four Originators Of The / Lake Washington And Lake Union Canal.
Dr. Herman Beardsley Bagley (1842-1899) earned a homeopathic medicine degree and taught in Michigan before relocating with his wife in 1875 to Seattle. He was an exemplary citizen and in addition to practising medicine, he was elected president of King County and Washington Homeopathic Societies, was County Health Officer and was elected to State Board of Medical Examiners. He also served on the Seattle City Council, was part of the Seattle Improvement Company (Bagley Avenue is named after him) and was a director of the Washington National Bank. In addition he was one of several men to first conceive the Lake Washington Ship Canal linking Lake Washington with Puget Sound.
In 1916 his widow Katherine, remarried as Mrs. M. W. Glenn, presented the drinking fountain in memory of her late husband. In 1952 due to neglect and vandalism, the fountain was removed. In 1970 following redevelopment of the viewpoint the dedication plaque was returned to the park.
The fountain was manufactured by J. L. Mott Iron Works. A square base with molded edge contained two dog basins on alternate sides and four molded edge panels for inscription. A molded cornice with egg and dart frieze and arched centers hosted lion head mascarons with leaf ornament. The lion masks spouted water into two demi-lune fluted bowls. Faucets were operated by pressing metal buttons which released a flow of water over a system of coils encased in ice to provide cool refreshment. Anchored adjacent to the basins were drinking cups suspended on chains.
A tapering column which displayed a wreath and ribbon ornament with fleur-de-lis shield housed two curved arm consoles supporting globe lamps and pendant lamp staffs.
A two tiered cornice with egg and dart molding and acanthus relief was located beneath the capital. Tapering legs with claw feet supported a lamp globe encircled by a union band with acanthus ornament. The structure terminated in a domed shaped cap.
Glossary
Acanthus, one of the most common plant forms (deeply cut leaves) to make foliage ornament and decoration
Capital, The top of a column that supports the load bearing down on it
Console, A decorative bracket support element
Cornice, a molding or ornamentation that projects from the top of a building
Demi-lune, half moon or crescent shape
Egg and dart, a carving of alternating oval shapes and dart or arrow shapes
Frieze, The horizontal part of a classical entablature 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
Memorial Drinking Fountains 