On what is supposed to be the hottest day ever recorded in the UK, this seems appropriate. Originally written in 2020 for Lancaster City Museum and edited 2022.

Around the city there are a number of places where the remains of historic drinking fountains can still be found, others we know of only from old photographs. Many seem to have been erected for memorial purposes, often in memory of people who helped advance the health and wellbeing needs of the town. A number, funded by an anonymous donor can be found at the town’s boundaries and stations and would have provided welcome relief to travellers or their horses. I would love to hear of your memories of using the drinking fountains; are there any others you know of?

• Market square. A public fountain with a lantern on top was erected in memory of Dr Edward De Vitre in 1880. De Vitre had been a principal founder of the Royal Albert Asylum and was a pioneer of compassionate patient treatment. He was also mayor of Lancaster twice and head of the Lancaster Gas company who had the fountain made in his honour. Around 1900, the fountain was moved to Queen Square and completely demolished in 1942 to allow for the increasing traffic flow on the main road through the city.

• Rear of the City Museum building New St Square/Market Street corner. This fountain is still partially present, with brown granite and a heraldic dolphin spout, though there’s no bowl now. Provided by the Lancaster Corporation with the funding given by an anonymous donor in 1859 along with three others, it used the newly piped water from the Wyresdale fells.

• Lancaster Castle external walls near to the courts entrance. This public fountain was erected in 1888 in celebration of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee the previous year. The commemorative plaque is still present, along with lion spout, bowl and trough although the water no longer flows.

• Dalton Square. Later moved to Stonewell in 1909, this grand drinking fountain with lantern on top was built in memory of Thomas Johnson, solicitor, and keen supporter of young mens’ health and welfare. It was built in 1895 but the building of the new town hall and further works in Dalton Square required it to be resited. Image of Thomas Johnson- https://redrosecollections.lancashire.gov.uk/view-item?i=232370&WINID=1585769348107#.XoTrgo7YpoM

• Williamson park, in front of the lake. This once grand, canopied drinking fountain was built c.1890 as part of James Williamson (Lord Ashton’s) scheme, continuing his late father’s plans. The canopy was removed in the 1940s and by the 70s a basic municipal public fountain was installed. Today all that remains is the square plinth. Several examples of the original Victorian fountain still survive in Scotland where they were made.

• Wyresdale Rd junction/Lancaster Royal Grammar School wall. This public fountain, sat at the eastern entrance into the town would have been invaluable to locals after walking up the steep hill or travellers entering the town from the moors. Funded by Lancaster Corporation, it was put up in 1859 along with the other group of four. It was originally on the opposite, Lancaster Grammar School side and moved into the Workhouse wall in 1887. It was functioning until the 1970s.

• Lancaster Castle Station, platform 3. Little is known about this fountain; it seems likely to have been installed as one of the group of four in 1859/60 which favoured locations for travellers. The spout plate is embossed with an Indian floral design.

• Penny St/South road/ ashton rd junction. This drinking fountain and horse trough, long demolished c.1930, for road widening works was also placed at the historic southern boundary into Lancaster, close to where the old toll house stood. This too is probably one of the four donated fountains which provided relief to travellers entering the town.

• Yorkshire House, Green Ayre. This one is also gone without trace but was provided in 1860 as a replacement to an earlier fountain and was part of the group of four fountains given to the town by a mysterious donor. It was described as being a handsome bronze fountain and had attached cups ‘in lieu of ladles’. It would have served travellers arriving at Green Ayre Station and from the northern roads. There was a second drinking fountain on the station platform, just like at the Castle Station.