Ribbon To Be Cut on Brentford Drinking Fountain

Official opening taking place in St. Paul's Recreation Ground

The restored fountain (left) with the original from a postcard dating back to its original installation

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Brentford Drinking Fountain Set To Make Return

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Next Thursday (7 October) at 11 – 12am sees the official reopening of the restored Victorian water fountain in St Paul’s Recreation Ground.

You are invited to come along to mark this special occasion of one of Brentford’s best known landmarks and help celebrate the reinstating of a working water fountain.

Heritage of London Trust and the London Borough of Hounslow joined with the Friends of St Paul's Recreation Ground to restore the fountain to full working order following its decommissioning in the seventies.

St Paul’s Recreation Ground dates from 1888, when Brentford Local Board bought the land using money raised to celebrate Queen Victoria’s 1887 Golden Jubilee. Its rose granite fountain was unveiled at the park’s grand opening in 1889, when two bands, mounted police, the fire brigade and VIPs in carriages joined a formal procession past street bunting and flags to the new Ground. Guests listened to speeches and drank fresh water from the fountain.

This time local schoolchildren will sing songs and read poems while the bells of St. Paul’s Church will ring out.

Martin Case, Chair of the Friends of St Paul’s Recreation Ground (FoSP) said, “Thank you and well done to all the FoSP's for supporting this project, it's taken a few years but is part of an ongoing programme and our aim to ensure this much – loved park remains an oasis within the surrounding urban landscape, serving the needs of all residents, young and old, and as a focal point for the local community. With a working fountain it's now truly an oasis!”

Proposed running order for St Paul’s fountain opening ceremony, Thursday 7 October 7 11am – 12am:-

Welcome to all and thank you from the FoSP’s –
Introductions – Cllr Curran (LBH), Nicola Stacey (Heritage of London), John Phillips (Proud Places), Tipi Turner (St Paul’s Church), Year 3 (St Paul’s Primary), Choir from Brentford School for Girls
Song from the Choir from Brentford School for Girls
Few words from - Cllr Curran (LBH), Nicola Stacey (Heritage of London), John Phillips (Proud Places)
Official opening/cutting the ribbon – pupil from St Paul’s
Prayer from Tipi Turner (St Paul’s Church)
Second song from the Choir from Brentford School for Girls
Peel of Church bells from St Paul’s
Year 3 (St Paul’s Primary) - every child to bring a reusable bottle to fill at the fountain as part of the ceremony. They will then work out how much water we have used and how many single-use bottles we have saved by doing so. This will then be extrapolated up for how much water/single use bottles we would save if we did this weekly for a year etc which we can share with the community.
Third song from the Choir from Brentford School for Girls to close.

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October 1, 2021