Restored drinking fountain

Image: © E Gammie Taken: 26 Oct 2015

The drinking fountain on Earlsdon Avenue South has been restored in 2015 complete with water supply. The water from the taps drains via the upper bowls down to a reservoir in the base available to passing dogs, cats and what have you. In 2008: Image] As can be seen from a comparison of the two photos it has been turned through 90 degrees and is slightly further away from the road. According to the Historic England listing the fountain is one (and the only operational) of two surviving drinking fountains of this type manufactured by George Smith & Co. at the Sun Foundry, Glasgow. It was originally erected in 1870 outside Image] in the city centre (visible in a Francis Frith postcard of c. 1884, when it appears to have been surmounted by a lamp) and later moved to this location in 1921 after the opening of the nearby Memorial Park. It was reputedly in operation until the 1970s although I can't recall it working in the 1960s. The other fountain can be seen here: Image] (2008) and a closer view (repainted) in 2017: Image] Another very similar casting: Image] and two others with similar bases: Image] (Faversham, 2014) and Image] (2005) External links : Original location (Frith): https://www.francisfrith.com/coventry/coventry-church-of-st-john-the-baptist-c1884_17127 Historic England listing: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1443610

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