The Randall Memorial Drinking Fountain | Bridgend
The first piped drinking water was provided at the expense of Dowager Countess of Dunraven, Caroline Wyndham in 1857. It consisted pipeline…
The first piped drinking water was provided at the expense of Dowager Countess of Dunraven, Caroline Wyndham in 1857. It consisted pipeline laid from Sarn to a water trough at the top of Eastgate Street.
This was the first time the inhabitants of Bridgend had access to fresh, clean and free water. To show appreciation to the Countess, Eastgate Street was re-named ‘Caroline Street’ in 1859.
Following the death of her estate manager, John Randall, in 1859, Dowager Countess of Dunraven, Caroline Wyndham commissioned the design of a memorial drinking fountain dedicated to her treasured friend.
As well as the new drinking fountain, Caroline commissioned a new water source for the town. This included the construction of a large reservoir near Bridgend supplying fresh water with a pipeline of two and a half miles being laid to carry the water to the fountain.
The Randall Memorial Drinking Fountain was finally erected in 1862. It took its position at the corner of what is now Court Road and Nolton Street. It was designed by J W Hugall Esq and constructed by Messers Wingate of Gloucester.
The Gloucester Journal described the fountain as: “… altogether (a) noble structure and will form striking object. The fountain has three basins with some part of the structure being made of polished serpentine rial marble, from the Lizard Rock in Penzance. It is very nearly feet high, commencing with (a) base twelve feet square. The work is alike creditable to the designer and the builders.”
The inscription on the fountain 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.”
