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The fountains in Houghton Rectory Park

One of the much loved aspects of Houghton Rectory Park is the trickling water fountain, located in front of the old Rectory building. Nobody could disagree that the fountain is very picturesque, even if you have childhood memories of being dunked in it by your school friends.

One of the early fountains in the Park, circa 1900

The current fountain is not the only one to have graced the Rectory Park, as the photographs here show. Copyright © Books of the North 2010.

If you have any photographs or memories of the Park, please get in touch.

A view of the fountain in Rectory Park in the early 1900s

A view of the fountain in the Rectory garden, around 1900. At this time the grounds were the private gardens of Houghton's Rector, then Rev Reginald Heart Yeld. Copyright © Books of the North 2011.

A view of the fountain in Rectory Park, circa 1912

This fountain, as seen in 1912, appears to be different from that shown in the previous photograph from 1900. Copyright © Books of the North 2011.

The Rectory Park fountain at the Park's official opening day in 1949. The Rectory and its grounds were purchased by Houghton Urban District Council after the War. The building was used as Council offices, while the grounds were turned over as a public park. Copyright © Books of the North 2011.

A view of the fountain in Rectory Park in 1949 at the Park's official opening day
Copyright © Books of the North 2011.

The stone of this fountain is thought to have been brought back to Houghton after the War. Testing of the stone in 2010 suggested that it is in fact travertine, a form of limestone usually formed at the mouth of a hot spring, probably from Tivoli (Tibur), Italy.

A view of the fountain in Rectory Park in the 1950s

A child passing in front of the Rectory Park fountain in the 1950s.

At this time, it became common for Houghton's youth to deposit their prize goldfish in the fountain while on their way home from Houghton Feast. Copyright © Books of the North 2010.

A view of the fountain in Rectory Park in the 1950s

A view of the fountain in 2007.

When compared with the view from the 1950s above, it is clear that parts of the fountain have eroded away, or as is more likely, been shorn off. Copyright © Books of the North 2010.

A view of the abandoned tiered fountain in Rectory Park in May 2011

This tiered water feature, as seen in May 2011, was located next to the Broadway entrance to Rectory Park. Copyright © Books of the North 2012.

It was demolished some time after the photograph was taken.

If you have any photographs or memories of this water feature, please get in touch.

 

Article and research by Paul Lanagan, local historian

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PAGE UPDATED: 16/02/2012