Drinking Fountain Butler Street/Oldham Road

Shortly before his death, James Jardine, a Manchester cotton manufacturer, offered monies for the erection of a drinking fountain (later increased to two fountains). Originally it was proposed to erect the fountain in St Ann’s Churchyard where improvement works were under way. However, a debate ensued with an alternative site at the junction of Piccadilly and Portland Street. In February 1893, James Jardine offered further monies for a second fountain on the Infirmary Esplanade but in November 1894 the Infirmary Board of Trustees refused to allow this.  In February 1895 Mills and Murgatroyd pressed the Council for the larger of the drinking water fountains to be sited in Albert Square but this was also refused by the Council. Further debate followed with proposals for a site in Queens Park. Finally on 8 August 1895 Manchester Council decided by a very large majority that the larger fountain should be placed upon All Saints' Church flags, and the smaller one upon the Oldham Road site between Butler Street and Masonic Street.

Models of the two drinking fountains, the gift of the late Mr James Jardine have been fixed for inspection by members of the Manchester City Council and others at the junction of Piccadilly and Portland Street, and at the junction of Butler Street and Oldham Road*. [Manchester Guardian 6 July 1895 page 6] * Close to Jardine’s cotton mill in Butler Street

Correspondence in the Manchester Guardian - Oldham Road fountain criticised for being sited on an island in the middle of the carriageway of one of the busiest roads in Manchester. [MG 9 July 1895 page 9 – correspondence; MG 11 July 1895 page 10 - correspondence]

The Waterworks Committee of the Manchester Corporation yesterday afternoon confirmed the resolution oi the City Council for the erection of the Jardine public water fountains, one in Oldham Road and another of larger dimensions in Oxford-street, opposite All Saints' Church. [Manchester Evening News - Tuesday 27 August 1895 page 2]

A communication was received from Messrs Mills and Murgatroyd, architects, to the effect that the fountains presented to the city by the late Mr James Jardine – one at All Saints and the other in Oldham Road – and were now in use. The Lord Mayor moved that the communication of Messrs Mills and Murgatroyd be acknowledged, and that the control of the fountains be placed in the hands of the Town Hall Committee.  … the daughters of the late Mr Jardine requested that the fountains be accepted without formal ceremony. [Manchester Guardian 6 February 1896 page 7]

Two drinking fountains at Manchester, for which money was left by the late Mr Jardine, have now been completed. The larger fountain has been put up in Oxford-street, in front of All Saints' Church; and the smaller one in Oldham-road. Both fountains were designed by Messrs. Mills and Murgatroyd; that in Oldham-road has been built by Messrs. J. H. Patteson, and that at All Saints by Messrs. Howarth Brothers, all of Manchester. [Building News 31 January 1896 page 192]