Comments on: Parliament Street fountain demolition, and a possible fountain restoration

By: John Hudson

John Hudson — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 21:43:03 +0000

Personally, a drinking fountain would be an environmentally friendly decision to take, considering the number of tourists York receives per year. This would reduce considerably the amount of plastic bottled thrown in bins, producing more unnecessary plastic waste. Instead of buying another bottle why not get a refil at the fountain.
And whilst the council is considering what to do, why don’t they restore the old drinking fountains you photographed.

By: John Shaw

John Shaw — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 13:13:16 +0000

Very well presented (as usual) Lisa. There’s a good article from the York Herald in 1880 about the fountain’s unveiling. The carver was Job Cole 1835-1901, someone whose work is all around York and yet he’s almost forgotten. There are photos in the Evelyn collection (YAYAS) of the fountain being dismantled in Library Square/Mint Yard and it looks like the basin with “V&A” facing the gardens was on the Museum Street side originally. I particularly like those pre-Raphaelite dolphins!

By: Deborah Roberts

Deborah Roberts — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 11:29:10 +0000

Though I have no particular view on the fountain Im horrified at seeing more useless metal work being put up ( the Shambles Market sign )
What on earth is that about.
York is slowly but surely being ruined by the seeming endless desire to put needless additions in its old streets.
I now rather dislike all the area between Stonegate and Petergate.
All the trues history is drowning in a mass of useless tourist gimmicks . With snickets now filled with shops that were never a feature or even existed before.
It was all far more attractive and historic 40 years ago.
Im coming back to visit soon , will I be able to recognise anywhere ?