Drinking Fountain, Parkside

Drinking Fountain, Parkside
Originally uploaded by Jessicamulley

Dear Mum,

This elegant drinking fountain stands at the edge of Wimbledon Common, along a road called Parkside. Small steps up to the fountain, now sadly defunct, provide for shorter inhabitants to reach the fountain, and there's even provision for dogs to drink via a small tap at base. The fountain was installed the Metropolitan Free Drinking Fountain Association (I've yet to establish a date). The cattle trough in front of the fountain came from the same association but carries its later name of the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association, which suggests that it was installed at a later date.

The decoration on the top of the fountain reminds me of the £ sign, giving the whimisical the impression that the fountain has been recruited to the cause of those opposed to the introduction of the Euro - Wimbledon Prefers the Pound, perhaps? - but in fact appears to be original to the design.