Bradford Review

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This page contains transcripts of articles and reports published in the Bradford Review. The subjects will be varied and specific entries will be linked to from the relevant page in the Wiki. It should be an accurate transcript taken from images of the printed page. Where the image quality is such that there is some doubt as to what it says it will be in italics (apart from whole sections that are in italics to separate it from the normal content) and where a best guess can't be made it will be shown as italic question marks.


Thursday 01 January 1863 INAUGURATION OF A DRINKING FOUNTAIN AT BAILDON

About the Potted Meat Stick

Bradford Review - Thursday 01 January 1863
INAUGURATION OF A DRINKING FOUNTAIN AT BAILDON.
On Tuesday last, there was a great stir in the ancient village of Baildon. It was the day selected for the presentation of a newly-erected drinking fountain to the inhabitants of Baildon by Mr. and Mrs. Amphlett, of Wichhold Hall, Worcestershire. At eleven o'clock, the Lord of the Manor, the chairman and members of the Local Board of Health, and the principal men of the place, met in the National School-room, and at half-past eleven they formed a procession and walked down to the Market-square. Here they were met by a numerous crowd of people of all classes, and in the centre of the square stood the object of the ceremony.
The fountain is very beautifully constructed, and reflects great credit on the designer and builder. Its height is 20 feet, including the four steps by which it is approached. It has a round granite shaft, and granite at each of its four sides. This Main shaft is 6 feet high and 2 feet in diameter, and is surmounted by a canopy, on which are carved the emblems of the four evangelists, and by a stone cross. The water issues from metallic leaves. The round base consists of 4 feet of asphalte, and at each of the corners there is a small stone column. The architect is Mr. Crosland, of Halifax, and the contractors are Messrs. J. and W. Beanland, of Bradford.
On the four sides of the base are the following inscriptions : "To the memory of Frances, widow of Edward Ferrand, Esq., of St. Ives, and daughter of William Holden, Esq., of this place." "This fountain was erected and presented to the inhabitants of Baildon, by Richard Paul Amphlett, Esq., and his wife in memory of her mother, 1862." "Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water.--Rev. 14, 7." "Jesus stood and cried saving, if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink.—St. John 7, 37."
Thomas Holmes, Esq., who acted as chairman, opened the proceedings by saying that they had met there that day to give Richard Paul Amphlett, Esq., an opportunity of presenting that beautiful fountain to the inhabitants of Baildon. He had erected it cheerfully at his own expense, and now it would stand forth to them and to their children for perhaps generations, as an evidence of the deep interest which he and his esteemed lady took in their welfare. He wished Mr. and Mrs. Amphlett to believe that the sentiments which the addresses contained, was a genuine expression of their gratitude and respect. That fountain would afford to the inhabitants, and the thousands of strangers who passed through their village in the summer season, a good supply of the truly refreshing element. (Cheers).
Mr. Amphlett then mounted the steps of the fountain, and said, that from the inscription upon the fountain, they would be aware that it was erected in memory of his mother-in.law, Mrs. Ferrand. He appeared before them on that occasion to make the public presentation, and in doing so he wished to recapitulate the circumstances under which that fountain was erected. They all knew that that lady was born at Baildon, and that she lived there until her marriage with the late Mr. Ferrand, of St. Ives. She had true respect and affection for the inhabitants of that place. Knowing her attachment to the place, he naturally looked to Baildon as the most suitable place for a memorial. He believed that nothing could be more useful and that nothing could be certain to have met with her approbation, if she were alive, than the erection of a public drinking fountain. (Hear, hear.) He was indebted to the Board of Health for two things. He was obliged to consult that board, first, because it had the control of the highways, and secondly because they could not get a supply of water without the board's consent. The board, in a liberal manner, undertook to supply the fountain with water at a nominal sum, which would be paid more for the sake of formality than anything else. All he should say was that he hoped it would meet with their hearty acceptance. He now formally presented it to the inhabitants of Baildon. He gave it unconditionally and trusted to the good feeling of the successive Boards of Health that they would keep it from injury and keep it in a state of efficiency. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. L. BARKER, chairman of the Board of Health, said he accepted the fountain in the name of the inhabitants of Baildon. (Cheers.) He then read the address.
Address to Richard Paul Amphlett, of Wichbold Hall near Droitwich, in the County of Worcester, and of Lincoln's Inn, the County of Middlesex, Esq., Q.C., and Frances, his wife, from the inhabitants of Baildon.
"Baildon, 30th Dec., 1862. "Dear Sir and Madam.— We, the undersigned inhabitants of Baildon, desire to express to you, on this occasion, heartfelt thanks for your kindness to our village, at your own cost in presenting to the township of Baildon the elaborate and ornamental fountain which you have this day transferred to us. "We value your gift, not merely for its beauty and utility, bent (sic) because it stands (as the inscription states) as a memorial of the late Mrs. Frances Ferrand, who was a native of our village, and who (although for a considerable number of years, she did not reside amongst us) by her benevolence, always showed a deep interest in our welfare, and thereby comforted many of our poorer inhabitants, and gained the affection and esteem of all those with whoom she was connected. "We also desire to express our wishes that you may enjoy continued happiness and prosperity, and to assure you you will always live in our remembrance." - Signed, Abraham Maud (Lord of the Manor), Lycias Barker (Chairman of the Baildon Board of Health), John Walker, J. W. Mills, Joseph Brook, George B. Chapman. W. H. Denby, John F. Holmes, Joshua Hill, Matthew Whitaker, Nicolas Walker, Joshua Mitton B.A., Alexander C. Hesse, Wm. Ives, Thomas Holmes, R. J. T. Hawksley, Wm. Jackson, and by six hundred and ninety-two inhabitants of Baildon.
Mr. Amphlett said he felt quite incompetent to thank them adequately for the kind and considerate address which they had presented to him, and he Has sure that when he showed it to his wife (who was detained in Worcestershire in consequence of ill health) she would join with him in his feelings of gratitude. After the kind allusion made in it to his mother-in-law, he might say, that whatever she did in charity, she never did it with more pleasure and satisfaction than to the poor of that place. It was his intention to give that fountain to the inhabitants of that district without reference to their religious creeds—(hear, hear)—and it was given because it could not offend the feelings of any class among them. He himself deserved no credit for the beauty of the design, but the merit belonged to Mr. Crossley, of Halifax. He might say that the architect had succeeded in producing a very original, ornamental, and useful structure. He begged in Mrs. Amphlett's name to thank them for their good wishes as to their health, and hoped that in the future, many opportunities would again arise in which they might show their affection for the inhabitants of Baildon (applause).
The Rev. J. Mitton, incumbent of Baildon, on being called upon, said that he regarded that fountain as a finishing stroke to a work which had been going on for some time past, to benefit the public of that district. He remembered that some fifteen years ago, Mrs. Ferrand spoke to him as to what might be done far the benefit of the inhabitants. One plan suggested was to give the village a good supply of water. He believed that there were few temporal benefits of more value than this. He did not think if they searched the Scriptures that they could find better texts than those inscribed upon the fountain. If any sceptic came by he hoped that, if he had been so foolish as to say in his heart there was no God, he would read those beautiful inscriptions. (Cheers.)
The Rev. A. C. Hasse, Moravian minister, said that as one of the mouthpieces of the religious body of the place, he wished to express their deep obligation to Mr. Amphlett for the gift thus publicly presented to them. He looked upon that day as an auspicious day for Baildon, and the fact that the place went formerly by the name of Hopetown, only strengthened his confidence in its future prosperity. That day would be memorable in his life, and trusted it would be the commencement of a new era in Baildon. He prayed for the peace and prosperity of that place, and prayed that from that day, its inhabitants would be elevated socially, intellectually, morally, and religiously. (Hear, hear.) He thought that no more excellent gift, or token of attachment, could be given, and he felt, therefore, bound to express his hearty thanks. They must all admit that their Market-place had been beautified, whether they considered the material, or the manner of the design. (Hear, bear.) When the poor abandoned drunkard passed by that fountain, it would speak to him, and say, as plain as words could say, "Come unto me and satisfy your thirst with that pure and unadultered (sic) element which God gave to man" (Applause.)
The Rev. Mr. Hawksley, Wesleyan Methodist minister, said he thanked the managers, and the Board of Health, for giving him that opportunity of expressing his thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Amphlett for that beneficial gift. He regarded the present state of things as one of progression, and considered that many things existed now for the improvement of mankind which did not exist in former times. In reflecting on the advantages of railway accommodation, telegraphic communication, infirmaries, and the various benevolent institutions, and also on the evangelical and missionary institutions, he saw a great improvement on the past. A good supply of water in that village was a groat boon. The ancients had no such knowledge of the laws of water as they had, for the old Roman aqueducts were very expensive. In the present day people were able to get a good supply of water with little trouble or expense, and they should appreciate its value. (Cheers)
Mr. R. Lofthouse stepped forward, and said that many observations had been made as to the beauty of the structure, but nothing as to the good quality of the water; and they had thus left undone one duty which he would now perform. Mr. Lofthouse then filled a tumbler with water, and presented it to Mr. Amphlett, which that gentleman drank amid repeating cheering.
MR J. Bent proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Holmes, for the able manner in which he had conducted the proceedings, in the capacity of chairman. Mr. HAWKSLEY having seconded the proposition, it was carried with applause.
The CHAIRMAN in responding, expressed a hope that the police, the Board of Health, and the inhabitants generally, would protect the fountain from all injury.
The proceedings then terminated.