Parks and gardens
The People's Park
Water, water everywhere
Water features were once a notable aspect of People’s Park - none more so than its fountains.
The original fountain was installed by Simpson of Pimlico and was capable of sending a jet of water 50 feet into the air. This central jet was surrounded by 40 smaller jets making an ‘elegant vase-like form’ and these, in turn, were encircled by another 64 jets. At the time it was considered to be the largest fountain of its kind in the country.
In 1912, Lord Somerleyton the son of Sir Francis Crossley presented to the Park a more elaborate and ornamental fountain, which had been removed from a demolished summer-house on Lord Somerleyton’s Suffolk estate. This was unveiled by his daughter on July 29th 1914.
For many years, this fountain has been inactive, but now following extensive restoration work, it has been switched back on by the current Lord Somerleyton.
In 1859, a drinking fountain designed by John Hogg of Halifax was given to the Park by local man Joseph Thorp. It was constructed at Maewr’s in Leeds and was located at the eastern end of the Park on the site formerly occupied by the sundial.
The Drinking Fountain was in the form of a pedestal, consisting of base, die and cornice and the whole was topped by a globe. Water flowed in four streams into stone basins and inscribed were the words 'Thank God for water' and 'Water is best'.
On a smaller scale, fountains were also located to either side of the Pavilion. These fountains featured four Gorgon heads cut from stone, from which water streamed.
These features must surely have contributed to the attractiveness of the park - certainly a ‘Park for the People’.
