3-021-115 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Drinking-fountain at Barbadoes, 1865. The water fountain in Bridgetown designed '...by Mr. J. F. Bentley, architect, is cleverly treated in an adaptation of the Early English style of Gothic; and Mr. T. Earp has skilfully executed the structure, which is 24 ft. high, and mainly composed of Portland stone, the basin being of Derbyshire grey bird's-eye marble, the columns of Cornish green serpentine marble...with a corona in Portland stone...The spaces between the columns, the quatrefoil panels, and cornice are inlaid with Minton's and Maw's encaustic and glazed tiles, in harmoniously-varied colours; the bosses in the spandrils being of opaque green glass...additional interest is given to the symbolism by familiar maxims (incised in Gothic lettering) from the Bible, as well as from the poets Shakspeare and Campbell. Thus, for Temperance (on front of the fountain), "Be sober-minded" - temperate in all things; for Prudence, "Look to the end" - weighing results; for Justice, "Do wrong to none;" for Fortitude, "To bear is to conquer." Within an incised band of decoration encompassing the base is stated that, "For the benefit of thirsty wayfarers, this drinking-fountain was presented to the city of Bridgetown, in the year 1864".' From "Illustrated London News", 1865.