HISTORICALEIGH - Water Water Everywhere But Not A Drop To Drink

November 26, 2014 by Carole Mulroney

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE - BUT NOT A DROP TO DRINK

How many of you pass the drinking fountain at the top of Leigh Hill every day and don’t give it a second thought?

Sadly it can’t be used because of modern day environmental health regulations and the condition of its pipe work which could be lead, is unknown. But nevertheless it has a history and is part of the street scene.

The fountain was offered to the town by the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association in 1938. (there is a plaque on the fountain to this effect).

This Association was established as a charity in 1859 by Samuel Gurney MP in order to provide the poor of London with a clean, fresh water supply following the cholera epidemics of 1848-9 and 1853-4.

The Association also had the support of temperance organisations who disliked the fact that beer was more readily available than water. It also erected a large number of cattle and horse troughs in and around London. By 1865 the majority of drinking fountains also had troughs for dogs attached to them.

By the 1930s there was no longer a need to provide drinking facilities for animals - the car had taken over, so the Association began to concentrate on providing drinking fountains in parks and other recreational areas, as well as schools.

The Leigh model of drinking fountain was introduced in 1929. How welcoming it must have been on a hot day after traipsing up Leigh Hill. And what a bonus that although it cannot be used we still have this reminder of a bygone age.