The Drinking Fountain
An area of Badsey High Street has for centuries been a watering hole. A roadside pool (close to the house known as Pool House) gave welcome relief for cattle and horses passing on their way through the village.
In 1870, Badsey Church Vestry asked William Byrd, a 29-year-old farmer living opposite the roadside pool at Seward House, to tidy it up and erect a pump and water trough at his own expense. This he did. By 1897 the pump needed repair and the trough was worn out. Badsey Parish Council tried unsuccessfully to persuade Evesham Rural District Council to assume responsibility for the water facilities. Time rumbled on and eventually the pump and trough were dismantled. In their place, a drinking fountain was eventually built in 1912.
The idea came about after the coronation of King George V in 1911. Following the coronation celebrations, a small surplus of money remained, and a subscription list was opened to add to this. It was decided to devote the money to a permanent memorial in the form of a fountain to commemorate King George V’s coronation, hence the inscribed front panel:
“This fountain was erected by public subscription to commemorate the Coronation of King George V, June 22 1911.”
In the spring of 1912 Evesham Rural District Council approved Badsey Parish Council’s request to erect a drinking trough on the site of the old village pump, and to allow a water service to the fountain provided that the Council appointed someone to see that the water was not wasted.
The official opening of the fountain took place on Saturday 22nd June 1912 at 4.30 pm, the first anniversary of Coronation Day.
An advert appeared in the Evesham Standard of 15th June 1912