Pearson Park in Hull. Inset, the fountain.
Pearson Park in Hull. Inset, the fountain.

Pearson Park drinking fountain to have lost detail reinstated

Pearson Park’s drinking fountain is set to receive a full restoration as part of the continuing National Lottery Heritage Fund project.

It follows the refurbishment of the Grade II-listed drinking bowl in 2016.

The original project had also allowed the restoration of the matching bowl on St Helena where Buonaparte was exiled.

The entire Grade II-listed structure is now with restoration specialists Lost Art, which recently completed the renovation of the entrance gateway at the park and will be repairing existing metalwork and repainting the canopy.

They will also replace several lost features on the top of the canopy including a griffin, the crest of Hull and the finial from the top of the structure.

A drawing of the Pearson Park fountain.

The original drawing of the MacFarlane fountain is being used to guide the restoration process.

A decision record published by Hull City Council has now also allowed for the reinstatement of the heron from the top of the drinking bowl, a feature lost many years ago and included in original drawings.

Lost Art will use this drawing to recreate this unique element of the fountain. The finished fountain will be painted using the colours found on the nearby bandstand, chosen using an original Victorian colour palette and include bright red, deep green and gold.

Councillor John Fareham, chairman of the Pearson Park Trust, said: “The drinking fountain is yet another stunning example of Victorian craftsmanship in Pearson Park. On behalf of the trust, I thank the Leader of the council for agreeing to assist with fulfilling the full restoration, something we were unable to stretch to through the lottery project budget.

“I’m delighted we now have the opportunity to add extra value to the restoration of the structure.”

How Europa House could look under new plans.
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