3-017-057 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Drinking-fountain in Victoria Park, the gift of Miss Burdett Coutts, 1862. 'Its arrangement is octangular...Its masonry consists of Portland and Kentish ragstone, Gazeby stone being employed for the steps and paving...The exterior consists of eight piers of polished Peterhead granite, with carved capitals of Aubigny stone...The spandrils of the arches contain...slabs of polished marble. Above these rises the principal cornice...enriched with red and green marbles...Four of its sides are occupied by the fountains...on the eighth [side] is situated the entrance to a chamber which affords access to the water supply and roof...Each fountain consists of a grey Aberdeen granite pedestal with bronze enrichments, containing a basin to receive the water, which is supplied by a Sicilian marble figure in a fluted niche above it...The drinking-cups are of bronze, silver plated on the inside, and on the outside bearing Burton's adage: "Temperance is a bridle of gold"...The door is of oak, and contains panels of bronze grille. Both the exterior and interior octagons are covered by a timber roof...Clock-dials and gablets filled with green glass occupy its alternate sides...The entire works have been completed from the designs of H. A. Darbishire, Esq'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.