The American Fountain, Market Place, Stratford-upon-Avon - Royal Arms with British Lion

One of the things I wanted to retake in Stratford was The American Fountain, as I only previously had one dark shot of it. I went all around it getting detailed shots of it.

It is in Market Place, near the top corner of Rother Street. By this point the market was mostly packed up.

From BBC h2g2 - The American Fountain, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, UK

Standing prominently in the Market Square of Stratford-upon-Avon, is a remarkable piece of masonry - the American Fountain. Whether you are wandering into the town from the railway station, or even just passing through by car or bus, the edifice is practically impossible to miss, and it is certainly worth stopping to take a closer look.

An Historical Monument

The Shakespeare Memorial Fountain and Clock Tower (as it is officially known) was presented to the town of Stratford by American journalist, and some would say philanthropist, George W Childs of Philadelphia in 1887. Built to honour not only William Shakespeare, but also Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, the amazing monument was unveiled at the time by actor Sir Henry Irving1. Victorian Gothic in style, the fountain is constructed mostly from Peterhead granite and freestone, resembling a small gothic cathedral of sorts, complete with a set of bells designed by JA Cossin's of Birmingham and a clock above each face of which sits a caricature of a fairy from Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Also prominent on the fountain are carved stone lions and eagles, representing Great Britain and the United States of America respectively, while horse-troughs line each side. However, the fountain no longer provides water, so neither do these, and flowers happily grow in them instead. In 1984, the local council and other benefactors had the clock repaired after a long period of stoppage, and an 'American Fountain Centenary Celebration' was held in 1987.

George W Childs

The man responsible for the Memorial Fountain was George William Childs, a journalist and publisher of note. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on 12 May, 1829, he was given a state school education. At the age of thirteen, Childs served a short fifteen months with the United States Navy before making his way to Philadelphia, where in 1843 he became a clerk in a bookshop. A mere two years later, he was a partner in the publishing house of Childs & Peterson. So successful was this publishing business that in 1864 he was able to purchase the Philadelphia Public Ledger, which at the time was a very little-known newspaper.

George Childs was instrumental in changing the newspaper into a respected publication, and it soon became one of the most influential journals in the country. With his newfound wealth, Childs did not become a greedy miser. He gave money freely to support education and charity; and with a deep love of England and its writers, he funded memorial windows to William Cowper and George Herbert in Westminster Abbey in 1877, another window to John Milton in St Margaret's Church, Westminster in 1888, plus other monuments both in England (the Shakespeare Memorial Fountain amongst them) and America (a monument to the writer Edgar Allen Poe one of many). His selflessness continued, along with his love of all things literature-related, right up until his death in Philadelphia on 3 February, 1894.

Meet Me at the Fountain

Despite the importance of the presence of Shakespeare's residence, and the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre by the River Avon, it could safely be argued that the American Fountain is the focal point of the town of Stratford. Situated at the junction of Rother Street and Windsor Street, it's just right as a central meeting place from which you can easily walk to many of the nearby tourist attractions. Also sitting opposite is the White Swan pub, a venue for many jazz bands and visitors, plus a Farmers Market bustles around the fountain every Friday.

There are a plethora of things to buy at these markets, from carrots and tomatoes to old books, from collectable 'antiques' to watch batteries. The fresh foods available are mostly local produce and are not only reasonably priced but very good eating. A lot of locals prefer to get their fresh fruit and vegetables from the market, rather than trekking to the local supermarket. Thus, the American Fountain provides not only a memorial to Shakespeare as intended, but also upholds the ideals of the man who came up with it in the first place, by having people share their wealth.

This gothic monument is called the American Fountain, a gift from George Childs of Philadelphia to Stratford in Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee year (1887).

On each corner it has a lion and an eagle. The lion represents Great Britain, the eagle the United States.

It is Grade II* listed.

From Heritage Gateway:

Shown on OS map as Shakespeare Memorial Fountain.
Clock tower incorporating horse troughs and drinking fountain.
1886-7. By Jethro Cossins of Birmingham; for George W Childs
of the United States. Ashlar with Peterhead granite plinth.
Square plan. Gothic style.
3-stage tower with conical spire. Lower stage has gabled
diagonal buttresses capped with British Lion and American
Eagle holding shields: Royal arms and Stars and Stripes;
arched recess to each face has shafts and relief carved
tympanum over inscription; to south: trefoil-headed entrance
with strap hinges to plank door and flanking trefoil-headed
recesses, once containing barometer and thermometer; to east
and west: horse trough with dog bowl below; to north: drinking
fountain. Middle stage has round pinnacles to angles, and
weathered sills to triple pointed lights with shafts;
dripcourses with beasts to ends. Top stage has gabled clock
faces, the gables crocketed with fairies to pinnacles. Round
base to spire has 4 round pinnacles to angles, spire with
lucarnes, all with wrought-iron finials.
Erected to the memory of William Shakespeare, dedicated by the
actor Henry Irving. An impressive monument at the north end of
the Rother Street market place, said to be on the site of the
medieval market cross.
(Bearman R: Stratford-upon-Avon: A History of its Streets and
Buildings: Nelson: 1988-: 49; Jaggard G: Stratford Mosaic:
London: 1960-: 60-67; Forrest H E: The Old Houses of
Stratford-upon-Avon: London: 1925-: 147).

The American Fountain, Stratford - Heritage Gateway

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Taken in: United Kingdom / England / Stratford-upon-Avon (show map)

Taken on: September 4, 2010

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Sets appears in: • Shakespeare • Stratford-upon-Avon

Groups appears in: • Sculpture • Warwickshire more » • Memorials • Insignia and Emblems • Stratford, UK • Statues and Sculptures. • Public Sculpture (UK) • Lion Sculptures • Clock Towers around the World • Art of Heraldry • Lions in Statues • View of Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Birmingham. • Escudos heráldicos / Heraldry • (Officially) England's Best Buildings • Stratford upon Avon Jokers & other Sculpture • Birmingham Post and Mail « less

Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S1500, f/7.1, 1/210 sec, 14.7mm, ISO 64 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix S1500
Aperture:	f/7.1
Exposure Time:	0.005 sec (1/210)
Focal Length:	14.7mm
ISO:	64
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Landscape
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Average
White Balance:	Auto
Scene Capture Type:	Landscape
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Digital Camera FinePix S1500 Ver1.01
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