Fassnidge Park Drinking Fountain

The Fassnidge family were wealthy landowners in Uxbridge, whose fortune came from a building and construction company founded in 1796. They built Rockingham Bridge and the Gilbert Scott-designed St Andrew’s Church. In 1917 Kate Canham married Sidney Fassnidge. They lived in an 18th century town house with extensive gardens that had been in the family for over a century. On Sidney’s death in 1921, Kate donated six acres of land next to the Frays River to be turned into a public park in his memory - for public use and to be free of charge at all times. The council added two acres to the site and it opened in 1926 as the first recreation ground in Uxbridge.

The park is a rare example of an inter war public park and was designed by William Eves, Uxbridge borough surveyor, at a cost of £6,000. In addition to the 1920s fountain, the park has Art Deco gates, a bandstand, two Neo Tudor lavatory blocks and a park keeper’s house. These are all locally listed and the park is in the Rockingham Bridge Conservation Area. At Kate’s death in 1950, with no children, her house was left to the town and a local charity was founded to support older people and those in need.

The Portland stone fountain originally had two stone bowls attached to each side. It may originally have been planned to have a lamp but this never appears to have been installed. At some point the stone drinking bowls were crudely removed and modern metal bowls installed. The south facade originally had a bronze plaque commemorating its origins: ‘Fassnidge Memorial Recreation Ground. This recreation ground was presented to Uxbridge for the quiet enjoyment and pleasure of the townspeople by Kate Fassnidge in memorial to her husband Edward James Sidney Fassnidge of this town. The Uxbridge Urban District council in grateful remembrance of this gift have caused this tablet to be fixed. MDCCCCXXVI.’ The plaque was stolen in the early 21st century.

The Portland stone is generally soiled and there is severe damage where the plaque has been removed and also where the bowls were removed. The capstone is heavily stained, but the carving detail is well defined. Overall, there are significant chips on the edges of the stone and spalling and on some surfaces. The joints between the base stone are open in places and some have been previously repaired with unsympathetic mortars which has failed in some areas. The fountain is not working.

As part of the restoration project, all chipped edges and broken areas of stone will be repaired with either putty lime or hydraulic lime. Lost details will be recreated, all cracks will be stabilised using concealed stainless-steel dowels or ties. The repairs will be built up slowly in layers to blend seamlessly. Failed mortar joints will be raked out carefully and repointed using a lime-based mortar. New stone indents will be created in areas where heavy loss has occurred. The metal plates will be removed and eliminated and replaced by Portland stone indents, including the creation of a new bowl section bowl. The fountain will have new brass taps and will be restored to full working order.