Baroness Burdett Coutts Drinking Fountain

The Baroness Burdett Coutts Drinking Fountain

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

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.[10]

References

  1. ^ Fry, H. (1880). London in 1880. Рипол Классик. p. 273. Retrieved 11 May 2016. Baroness Burdett Coutts Drinking Fountain.
  2. ^ Wheatley, Henry; Cunningham, Peter (February 2011). London Past and Present: Its History, Associations, and Traditions. Cambridge University Press. p. 434. ISBN 9781108028080. 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. 30 June 1862. p. 2. Retrieved 11 May 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Home". The Examiner. 5 July 1862. p. 10. Retrieved 11 May 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ Fieldhouse, Ken; Woudstra, Jan (December 2012). The Regeneration of Public Parks. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781135157890. 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. ISBN 9780857287113. 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.

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