Victorian Drinking Fountains

A weekend in Oxford gave the opportunity to visit two historical water points, or fountains - WASH history fascinating me as I try to understand why the world is now about to fail to achieve its third (or is it fourth) 'World Water Decade' (or equivalent).

The first, and most obvious water point, though no longer functioning, is at a prominent Y Junction to the east of the city centre - the 'Victoria Fountain' - inauguarated, the plaque tells us, in 1899, as 'a drinking fountain for people and horses'.

The second is a fountain on the site of a spring box, the original Walton Well, the fountain being inaugurated in 1885. A BBC report tells that starting this summer 'A 19th Century drinking fountain is set to become fully functional as part of a project to restore it to its "former glory". And that "Oxford Preservation Trust is delighted to be restoring the Walton Well drinking fountain so it can once again provide fresh drinking water for the local community."

I can't imagine many local householders visiting it with their water pails to collect drinking water each day - as was once the situation. But, if my wife's knitting hobby takes us back to Oxford next year, I look forward to seeing it functioning again.

Whilst checking on the details of this 'capital maintenance project' I came across a fascinating reference to another historical Oxfordshire waterpoint - 'The Maharajah's Well' in Stoke Row, some twenty miles south of Oxford - reportedly a 365 feet deep, 4 feet diameter hand dug well in the chalk, taking a year to complete at a then cost of £400 - being a gift of the Maharajah of Benares. I look forward to visiting it before too long and sharing a photo - it is documented at http://www.oxfordshirevillages.co.uk/southoxonvillages/stoke_row.html