The Osborne Road Fountain
Published in Windlesora 27 (2011)
© WLHG
The Gordon Cullingham Newsletters were written when Gordon was chairman of the Windsor Local History Group and contain many snippets of his personal research not published elsewhere. Whilst browsing through these earlier this year I came across the following entry, ‘Osborne Road fountain. June 27 1888, Portland Stone fountain presented by Henri J Henry of Queensmead (Director of Old Windsor Tapestry Manufactory). Removed in 1930s, when the roundabout was built, to Maidenhead Road Nursery. Plans to reconstruct don’t seem to have gone ahead’. My curiosity was aroused as a local historian, and a resident in Osborne Road.
In the copy of the Windsor and Eton Express for 27 June 1888, under the heading ‘The Queen’s Fountain’ was the report of the presentation of the fountain to the borough. It stood at the junction of King’s Road with the Osborne and Old Windsor roads (fig 1) and was handed over by the donor in the presence of numerous spectators. Although this drinking fountain was designed to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee there was no public ceremony and no member of the Royal Family was present because the Court was in mourning at the death of the Emperor Frederick of Germany, husband of Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter. Upon the arrival of the Mayor, the water was turned on and the first cup of water was passed to His Worship by Mr Henry. The appliances for the supply of water to the fountain, and of gas to the lamp surmounting it, were then inspected, the water partaken of by one or two members of the Corporation, and the proceedings were at an end.
However the newspaper did not include a photo or a sketch of the fountain. Fortunately after many searches a photograph was eventually found in the Windsor and Royal Borough Museum Store (right) with the date, Jan 1st 1889 and the writing shows it was a presentation to G.H.Peters, (the Mayor at the ceremony) and signed by H. Henry the donor of the fountain. The photograph is reproduced here by kind permission of the museum.
This description of the fountain is taken from the report in the paper on the day of its presentation:
‘This imposing and handsome Portland-stone drinking fountain to the design of Mr Henry is eminently symbolic and may briefly explained thus: The fluted pillar signifies the pillar of the State, which supports a globe (the lamp), on which are painted the four points of the compass- north, east, south and west and on which rests a representative of the Queen’s Imperial crown. The four basins, upheld by angels’ heads, are intended to portray the religious idea of the ceremony of the coronation. The crowned head of a lion, above the north basin, and looking towards the Castle is typically surrounded by laurel leaves; another, whose face is directed the opposite way, and towards the Forest, is en circled with oak leaves. Facing east and west respectively are two heads of Father Thames, encircled with bull-rushes, the one looking towards the Thames at Clewer, and the other towards the river as it winds its way through Old Windsor.’
The inscription is ‘In memory of fifty years of Queen Victoria’s reign. Long Live The Queen. 1837 – 1887. Presented to the Royal Borough of Windsor by H. Henry. G.H. Peters Mayor June 1888.‘
Mr H Henry was a well known resident of Windsor, who lived in Queensmead, (now Brigidine School) and he built most of the mansions on the west side of Kings Road and the Park (including Queensmead), and was closely associated with Old Windsor Tapestry Works.
A horse trough was later erected by the fountain which was presented by the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association but the inscription was undated.
The first evidence we could find about the demolition of these two structures was found in an article in the Windsor and Eton Express on 20 September 1935. It would appear that the growth of motor traffic was causing problems at the Fountain crossroads. A photograph was included to illustrate the problem (see Fig 3.). The report goes on to say that a scheme had already been outlined to alter the road junction and to install traffic lights at a cost of £730. This would involve the removal of the horse trough and fountain. Opinion was divided as to whether this would improve matters or make traffic conditions more difficult. In the edition of the paper for the 10 June 1938 details were given of a crash at the Fountain crossroads involving a charabanc returning from the Aldershot Tattoo and the Windsor Fire Brigade tender, which demolished the horse trough. Two firemen were taken to hospital but the thirty children in the charabanc although shaken, were able to continue their journey.
In the report of a Council meeting in the paper’s edition of 17 March 1939 we read that the Borough had been authorised to arrange for the removal of the monument and the question was raised regarding where it could be erected as many people disliked the removal. The fountain was taken to the Maidenhead Road Nursery which was closed in the 1970s and houses were built on the site, apparently bringing to an end any possibility of reconstruction.
Norman Oxley
Acknowledgements
My thanks to Pamela Marson, Sue Ashley and Martin Kelaita for their help in the preparation of this article.
Sources
Windsor and Eton Express
Windsor and Royal Borough Museum
Windsor Local History Group 