Anderson Fountain

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A cast-iron canopy constituting the remains of a former fountain in memory of Hugh Anderson and designed by William J. McGiven; dated 1911 and located in Anderson Park, to the north side of Circular Road in Coleraine town centre.

Canopy sits on a polygonal three-stage concrete plinth and comprises pierced cupola supported by cusped semi-circular arches on eight fluted columns with cast-iron console brackets topped by grotesque. Arches surmounted by medallions bearing heron motif or inscribed plaques; rope mouldings over arches and around medallions; heron medallions read “THE PAVEMENT” above and “KEEP” “DRY” to left and right respectively. Plaque to west reads “THE HON/ THE IRISH SOCIETY/ OF LONDON/ PRESENTED AS A FREE GIFT/ THREE ROODS AND/ TEN PERCHES OF THE LAND/ INCLUDED IN THIS PARK/ AND ALSO £250 TOWARDS / THE COST OF ITS/ EQUIPMENT”. Plaque to northwest reads “WILLIAM THOMAS CHURCH ESQ/PRESENTED AS A FREE GIFT/ TO COLERAINE/ SIX ACRES AND/ SEVENTEEND PERCHES/ OF THE LAND INCLUDED/ IN/ THIS PARK.” Plaque to east reads “THIS FOUNTAIN/ WAS ERECTED BY THE/ URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL/ OF COLERAINE/ TO COMMEMORATE THE DONORS/ OF THE PARK, IN THE YEAR OF THE CORONATION/ OF HIS MAJESTY/ KING GEORGE V. 1911/ FREDERICK W CRAWFORD – CHAIRMAN / WILLIAM HENRY – TOWN CLERK “. Plaque to southeast reads “HUGH ANDERSON ESQ. J.P./ WHO DIED 27TH JANUARY 1899/ BEQUEATHED £3000 TO/ THIS PARK/ AND ALSO £2000/ IN TRUST FOR THE POOR/ OF/ COLERAINE”.

Setting:

The fountain is situated in the grounds of Anderson Park to the north side of Circular Road.

Materials: Cast-iron & concrete

Historical information

The cast-iron fountain was erected in 1911 to designs by W J Given as a memorial to Hugh Anderson JP, wine and spirit merchant, and donor of the Anderson Park.

Hugh Anderson was rendered extremely wealthy as a young man in his twenties when he was left a considerable fortune accumulated by his uncle, a wine and spirit merchant. Anderson subsequently built a ‘palatial residence’ called Tiev Tara to the west of Coleraine and continued the business that had been started by his uncle in partnership with a colleague. Anderson was the wealthiest citizen of Coleraine and also one of its most prominent, becoming chairman of the Town Commissioners, chairman of the Harbour Board, High Sheriff of County Londonderry, a member of the Grand Jury and a member of the consulting board of the Belfast Banking Company. He was a Liberal Unionist, a member of the congregation at New Row and Provincial Grand Treasurer of his Masonic lodge, as well as a member of two local orange lodges. He gave generously to charities such as the Masonic Orphan Schools and was well-respected locally. Hugh Anderson died on 27th January 1899 at the age of 57 and newspaper reports of his funeral claim that it was the largest funeral procession ever witnessed in Coleraine. All businesses along the route closed and crowds assembled in the streets to witness the procession (Coleraine Constitution).

The fountain was cast in 1911 by Messrs Walter McFarlane of Glasgow and designed by William James Given, the town surveyor for Coleraine (www.dia.ie). The fountain is first shown on the 4th edition OS map (1923) in Anderson Park. The park was completed in 1904 at a cost of £3,042, following a bequest by Hugh Anderson (Street Directory 1918).

The fountain was listed in 1977 but subsequently removed from the park for some time due to vandalism. When it was replaced c2004, the foundation was moved a few metres and repainted in the colours of Coleraine Borough Council, Oxford blue and gold (HB file). The central drinking fountain has been removed in recent years but the ornamental canopy remains.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/7/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1923
2. PRONI OS/6/5/7/5 Fifth Edition OS Map 1949
3. HB file – 03/18/022
4. Freeman’s Journal 30th January 1899
5. Coleraine Constitution 3rd February 1899
6. Street Directory 1918

Secondary Sources

1. Girvan, W D “Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in Coleraine and Portstewart” Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1971-2
2. www.dia.ie

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

A cast-iron canopy to a former fountain in memory of Hugh Anderson and designed by William J. McGiven; dated 1911 and located in Anderson Park, to the north side of Circular Road in Coleraine town centre. The canopy comprises a pierced cast iron cupola supported on cusped semi-circular arches and eight fluted columns and is decorated with heron motifs, grotesques and a number of inscribed plaques. Although the fountain itself has been removed, altering the integrity of the structure somewhat, the ironwork in the canopy is intricate and highly accomplished and it remains of significant interest. Anderson Fountain is a fixed memorial of high artistic and craft value and is of significant social importance and local interest.

General comments

Listing Criteria R - Age; S - Authenticity and T - Historic Importance also apply.