Scarborough horse troughs; Esplanade Gardens

Image: © Christopher Hall Taken: 8 Apr 2014

Public horse troughs are expressions of later C19 charitable provision. The Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association had been established in London by Samuel Gurney an MP and philanthropist and Edward Thomas Wakefield, a barrister, in 1859 to provide free drinking water. Originally called the Metropolitan Free Drinking Fountain Association it changed its name to include cattle troughs in 1867, to also support animal welfare. In the 19th century ‘cattle’ included horses. The objective of the Association was the provision of clean water for the working classes and for animals. This initiative in London was followed regionally and Scarborough, as a rapidly developing sea-side resort especially frequented by the middle classes and entrepreneurs of industrial West Yorkshire, was no exception in terms of both public drinking fountains and horse troughs. This water polished granite trough on Esplanade Gardens is a very stylish example. The lettering reads Dedicated to God for his dumb animals

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