AN IMPORTANT part of Colne Valley history is back in its rightful place.
A historic drinking fountain – one of very few now in Huddersfield – has been restored at Marsden park after it has been carefully restored.
The fountain was originally placed in the park by the Women’s Temperance Association in 1929.
But it had fallen into disrepair and was put away in storage until the Friends of Marsden Park raised the £11,000 needed to get it back in working order.
The group paid for the work with grants from the Marsden and Slaithwaite Renaissance Market Towns programme and the Yorkshire Forward Rural Target Fund.
Pupils from Marsden Junior School popped into the park to celebrate its return.
Friends of Marsden Park gave them a talk in assembly about the fountain’s history and the first drink was officially taken by Owen Horne, whose great-great-grandfather, Gordon Micklethwaite, was park keeper at Marsden for 41 years.
The fountain restoration marks phase one of a four-part plan the Friends of Marsden Park have to improve the area.
Work on the park is expected to be complete by 2012.
The friends group organises events to raise funds for the improvements and to help people enjoy the park. The group meets at 6.30pm on the last Tuesday of the month at Marsden Mechanics Hall.
The next meeting will be next Tuesday.
l The drinking water fountain has a history which dates back to the ancient Greeks.
l More recently, it has been provided by the local water authority.
l The Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association was established in 1859 – but is now known just as The Drinking Fountain Association.
l The objectives of the Association are to promote the provision of drinking water for people and animals in the United Kingdom and overseas.
l People can apply to the association to the Association for grants for schools drinking fountains, restoration work and overseas projects to supply clean water.
