Detail View: SHIMMER:

Fountain Cross

1866

2.7m high x 60cm wide x 41cm deep

2004

19th century

Cawthorne, South Yorkshire

ENGLAND, UK

sandstone

SHAW, George

b037a

General view. Location: In the grounds of Victoria Jubilee Museum, Taylor Hill, Cawthorne, S75 4HQ. Location: "Maypole Hill". Adjacent to 10 Church Street (Fountain House), Cawthorne, Barnsley MBC. Description: A large cross carved with interlocked serpents and water. The base of the cross is rounded and again carved into two, interlocked, serpents. The whole stands on five circular steps. At the front these are cut away to form a niche into which a drinking fountain was placed (no longer in situ). A basin to hold water was constructed with the addition of a further panel across the niche. This panel is decorated with carved snakes coiled about a cross. The height of the cross is 268 cm; width: 60 cm; depth: 41 cm The carved base is 46 cm high and 110 cm in diameter. The plinth is 200 cm high. The fountain basin is 50 cm high and 100 cm at its widest part. Inscriptions: On the front of the cross, near its base: '″WHOSEVER″ / DRINKETH″OF″THIS″WATER / ″SHALL″THIRST″AGAIN″ / ″BUT″WHOSOEVER″DRINKETH″ / ″OF″THE″WATER″THAT″I″SHALL″ / ″GIVE″HIM″SHALL″NEVER″ / ″THIRST″BUT″THE″WATER″ / ″THAT″I″SHALL″GIVE″HIM″ / SHALL″BE″IN″HIM″WELL″ / OF″WATER″SPRINGING″UP″ / ″INTO″EVERLASTING″LIFE ' (partially indecipherable – St John iv., 13-14) Commission: In 1865 water was piped from Margery Wood, High Hoyland, into Cawthorne. The stone cross was given to the village the following year by Misses Frances and Maria Stanhope of Banks Hall. The design, by 'Mr Shaw of Saddleworth', was inspired by a Norman cross built into the exterior of the North Chancel of the adjacent Cawthorne Church. [1] Comment: Water continued to be taken from the fountain up to the Second World War when the water supply was destroyed by open cast mining. There is currently some dispute of the ownership of the land on which the fountain cross stands. [2] References: [1] "History of Cawthorne", Rev. Charles T. Pratt. (pub. privately 1882) pp. 65-66 [2] Letter from Barry Jackson: (28.2.03)

© Dave Ball

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Dave Ball

SHAW, George

Architect. Active in Saddleworth.

Male.

Relief (Sculpture), English

Sculpture -- England (South Yorkshire)

Public art -- England (South Yorkshire)

Drinking fountains