Thirlmere Fountain: Albert Square Manchester

Erected in connection with the ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Thirlmere Waterworks on 13 October 1894, the fountain was turned on with a gold key by Sir John Harwood, chairman of the Waterworks Committee and it was intended that it would continue playing until dusk. Although built as a temporary structure, no arrangement had been made for its removal and after its brief moment of fame, the empty and unused fountain remained in Albert Square until its eventual demolition in 1897when it was replaced by a more permanent structure.

The fountain in Albert Square occupies a space between the statues of the late Bishop Fraser and the late John Bright. It takes the form of two basins - the lower one raised two steps above the pavement, and the upper one raised on a central shaft about 11 feet above the pavement. The lower basin is circular on plan inside, the diameter being 15 feet 4 inches, the plan on the outside being broken by four equal faces; the wall is built of brickwork set in cement and covered both inside and outside with cement, the outside face being divided into panels with sunk mouldings, splayed base and moulded coping. The wall is built on a bed of concrete which covers the whole space of an octagon 30 feet in diameter and forms the lower step, a second step being added to raise the basin about 14 inches above the pavement level. The height to the top of the basin from the top step is about 3 feet 5 inches, and the water in the basin will be 6 inches below the level of the top. The upper basin, which is constructed of concrete cement on an iron framing, is about 5 feet 2 inches diameter inside, circular on plan, and is carried on a central shaft 2 feet 2 inches in diameter. This shaft is constructed with an iron casting enclosing the pipes, the space between the pipes and the casting being filled solid with cement; a moulded and foliated capital worked in cement finishes the shaft. Through the central shaft of the iron pipes are erected a 9 inch pipe supplying the central jet, which has a 2 inch nozzle, and four 4 inch pipes supplying the upper basin, from which the water will flow all round into the lower basin. The pipes which supply the fountain have been laid under the superintendence of Mr Hill,  the engineer of the Thirlmere waterworks. The water for the fountain is supplied from Thirlmere through an 18 inch main connected to the Thirlmere Aqueduct at the Manchester and Bolton Road near the Children's Hospital, Pendlebury. The supply is controlled by hydraulic valves placed near the fountain, by which the height of the jet and the quantity of water flowing over the upper basin can be regulated as may be desired. The fountain, which was not commenced till three weeks ago, has been erected by Messrs Southern and Son, contractors, Salford, from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr J W Beaumont, architect, Manchester. [Manchester Guardian 12 October 1894 page 5]

THE ALBERT SQUARE FOUNTAIN - The fountain which was put up in Albert Square in connection with the opening of the Thirlmere water supply on October 13 1894, is about to be removed, and its place will be taken by a more permanent structure. The new fountain is the gift of an anonymous donor, and has been designed by Messrs Thomas Worthington and Son. .. [Manchester Guardian 7 July 1897 page 7]

See also Thomas Worthington for existing fountain