Baroness Burdett Coutts Drinking Fountain

The Baroness Burdett Coutts Drinking Fountain in Victoria Park, London.

The Baroness Burdett Coutts Drinking Fountain (also known as the Victoria Fountain) is a Grade II* listed drinking fountain situated in Victoria Park, London. The fountain was built in 1862.

History

The fountain was designed in 1862 by Henry Astley Darbsihire and erected by Baroness Burdett Coutts at a cost of £5,000.[1] The fountain is made out of granite, and is a 28 feet (8.5 m) diameter octagon with 60 feet (18 m) red granite columns, in the Gothic style, and is situated near to the Hackney gate of the park.[2][3] The opening of the fountain in 1862 was attended by 10,000 spectators.[4][5] The year after the fountain was installed, The Illustrated London News called Victoria Park the best people's park in London, due to its facilities such as the fountain.[6] In his Dictionary of London, Charles Dickens, Jr. described the fountain as "beautiful".[7]

In 1975, the fountain was given Grade II* listed status by Historic England.[8] In 2011, the fountain was refurbished as part of a major restoration of Victoria Park.[9] The fountain is no longer in public use; instead, it is protected by a metal fence around it.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Fry, H. (1880). London in 1880. p. 273. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  2. ↑ Wheatley, Henry; Cunningham, Peter (February 2011). London Past and Present: Its History, Associations, and Traditions. Cambridge University Press. p. 434. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "The Victoria Fountain". Illustrated London News. 1 July 1862. p. 13. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "Inauguration of a Drinking Fountain in Victoria Park". The Daily News (UK). 30 June 1862. p. 2. Retrieved 11 May 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).
  5. ↑ "Home". The Examiner. 5 July 1862. p. 10. Retrieved 11 May 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive. (Subscription required (help)).
  6. ↑ Fieldhouse, Ken; Woudstra, Jan (December 2012). The Regeneration of Public Parks. Taylor & Francis. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  7. ↑ Jackson, Lee (August 2006). A Dictionary of Victorian London: An A-Z of the Great Metropolis. Anthem Press. p. 78. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  8. ↑ "Baroness Burdett Coutts Drinking Fountain". Historic England. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  9. ↑ "Victoria Park". Tower Hamlets Council. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  10. ↑ "Victoria Park". East End Memories. Retrieved 11 May 2016.

Coordinates: 51°32′13″N 0°02′23″W / 51.53707°N 0.03965°W / 51.53707; -0.03965

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