Alderman Proctor's Drinking Fountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alderman Proctor's Drinking Fountain |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Town or city | Bristol |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°27′42″N 2°37′33″W / 51.461609°N 2.625837°W |
| Completed | 1872 |
| Client | Society of Merchant Venturers |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | G and H Godwin |
The Alderman Proctor's Drinking Fountain is a special old building. You can find it on Clifton Down in Bristol, England. It's a historic fountain that has been around for a long time.
Contents
Why Public Fountains Were Built
Bristol started giving clean drinking water to its citizens in 1858. Before this, people often got water from wells or rivers. To show everyone about the new clean water, a man named Robert Lang suggested building public drinking fountains. He started a special fund in 1859 to pay for them. By 1906, Bristol had over 40 public fountains.
Who Built the Fountain?
In 1872, a local leader named Alderman Thomas Proctor decided to build this fountain. An "Alderman" was like a city council member. He hired a famous architecture firm, George and Henry Godwin, to design it.
Alderman Proctor built the fountain to remember an important event. In 1861, a group called the Society of Merchant Venturers gave Clifton Down to the city of Bristol. This meant everyone in Bristol could enjoy the beautiful park forever. Thomas Proctor also had the same architects build his home. He later gave his home to the city. It became the Mansion House, which is the official home of Bristol's Lord Mayor.
What the Fountain Looks Like
This fountain has three sides. It is built in the Gothic Revival style. This style was popular in the 1800s. It looks a bit like old castles or cathedrals. The fountain is made mostly of limestone. It has pretty pink marble columns. There is also white marble around the main parts.
A special plaque on the fountain tells its story. It says that Alderman Thomas Proctor built it. It also explains that the Society of Merchant Venturers gave Clifton Down to the citizens. This gift made sure that everyone in Bristol could enjoy the Downs forever. The fountain also shows three different coats of arms. These are like special symbols or logos. They represent the city of Bristol, the Society of Merchant Venturers, and Alderman Thomas Proctor himself.
Moving the Fountain
The fountain was first placed at the start of Bridge Valley Road. But as more cars came along in the late 1900s, it became a problem. It was in the way of traffic. So, in 1987, the fountain was moved. It was placed on the other side of the road. This new spot is closer to the Mansion House.
After it moved, the fountain was cleaned up and fixed. This is called restoration. It was officially opened again on May 1, 1988. Since 1977, the fountain has been a "grade II listed building". This means it's a very important historic building. It is protected by English Heritage so it can be kept safe for the future.
