The water fountain that was taken away on the back of a lorry in February is now back in place on the promenade at the bottom of Hoyle Road.
You’ll notice it’s no longer black and yellow and more importantly you’ll notice that the actual centre stand and water dish have not (yet) been replaced. I’ve no idea if there’s more to come? The water dish and stand were separate items to the main stand so perhaps they’re still being renovated.
Although you can’t tell, I know that beneath the concrete base there’s a water pipe with a stop-end on it. I spotted the end of the pipe lying there before the base was replaced …I’ve got a photo too somewhere. So even if the water dish is to be replaced I can’t imagine the fountain will actually be working.
Personally, I like the colour scheme – I wonder if it’s how it was originally painted?
There’s a couple of bits missing in the top too – Queen Victoria isn’t there on all four sides. Eagle eyed viewers of the real thing might notice something about the gargoyle dragons (or whatever they are) – three have open mouths whilst one has his/hers firmly shut.
Notice the rusty water stain – it’s only been a week!
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Here’s a view of the inside with the white and yellow flower that it’s in each corner.
I think I remember this being painted in the same blue as the railings in the late 70s, same as the public toilets which were to the NE (by about 5 yds!), now demolished but would be (or should be) listed if they were still there today!
Cheers, Rich
Yes, used to be blue and before that green like the prom railings. I think the railings changed from green to blue in the early ’70s. The 4th plaque used to include a dedication from the donor of the fountain “To the children of Hoylake and Meols”.
It looks very smart. As you say, looks like the fountain is not coming back or at least it won’t be plumbed in as I can see no plumbing access in the plinth. It actually used to work in the ’60s. It’s a bit pointless without it.
Incidentally I’ve seen identical (or nearly so) drinking fountain canopies in many Commonwealth countries such as Australia.
Yes, the fountain is the exact colour scheme as it was when originally opened. The “innards” are still being refurbished, and getting people who can actually do this kind of work these days isn’t easy. Some parts are having to be cast again from scratch.
There will be no water in the finished fountain, I guess with the dreaded Health and Safety regulations drinking fountains are illegal now. I suppose in the past hundres of people died in Hoylake from diseases caught drinking water from the fountain, and on top of that there must have been thousands who slipped and broke limbs on the spilled water. We’ll only have it there to look at I’m afraid.
I gather the “innards” are being installed soon – weather permitting I guess.
Yes, no doubt the deadly cholera outbreak of 1978 was in large part due to contaminated water from the fountain, and of course the ice-floes on Hoylake beach seen during the exceptionally cold winter of 1963, and which caused multiple shattered limbs, were in large part caused by fresh-water leaking from a pipe in the fountain burst by the extreme cold….
Oh, isn’t the present blame culture a load of absolute bol?#ocks! The fountain was a real curiosity when I moved to Meols (or Hoylake? Saxon Rd!) in the 1970s.
Does anyone remember the ‘plaque’ set into the sea-wall near the end of Trinity Rd commemorating the opening of the Prom in 1899 (I think)? Covered by sand last time I looked.
Interested to hear that more bits of the fountain atre to come – I hope the plaque ‘To the children of Hoylake and Meols’ is reinstated; I always liked that when I was a boy! And I remember drinking without ill effect from it but the tap was usually vandalised so the cvouncil gave up on it. Fascinating to know the colour scheme is the original. I guess well done to the council for actually doing something after so many years of neglect by them. What I wonder prompted them?
Yes, I remember the plaque. It used to be fully exposed after a really high tide with a gale behind scoured the sand back to the foundations of the prom. I doubt it’s been seen for quite a few years now. It’s by the lifebopat slipway (Sailing Club side). Worth an archaeological dig to check up on it……!