About
The drinking fountain was constructed in 1860 by J. W. Hugall of London and is Victorian French Gothic style in design. It is set within a small garden area enclosed with railings and is Grade II Listed. The fountain was constructed out of freestone with marble dressings and a pyramid style top. The term ‘freestone’ refers to a fine grained stone (usually sandstone or limestone) which can be cut easily in any direction without splitting, thus enabling intricate carving of the nature shown here. The front elevation of the drinking fountain contains the coat of arms of the Wyndham family. Below the pyramidal top is an open section which contains ornate tracery on each of the four sides. The four simply carved stone basins around the lower section of the fountain would originally have held water. Below these are ornate stone bases carved with simplified floral motifs.
To the front of the fountain, a carved marble commemorative plaque reads:
‘Erected by Caroline, Countess of Dunraven, in memory of her friend John Randall Esq. who for thirty-three years managed her estates AD 1860’.
John Randall managed the Dunraven Estate. He was noted for his efficient supervision and tending of the estate such that it became profitable both for the landlord and tenants.
The fountain was the first piped drinking fountain within Bridgend, commissioned by Dowager Countess of Dunraven, Caroline Wyndham. The water was clean, free and available for everyone. As a mark of gratitude to the Countess, Eastgate Street in Bridgend was renamed Caroline Street.
