Built in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond jubilee, this pretty drinking fountain was, by 2008, standing neglected and forelorn, despite being a much loved local landmark when approaching Oxford from the east. So OPT stepped in ...

Stop press: in 2015 OPT worked with adjoining school MCS to plant up the troughs with bring seasonal flowers.

Read more about this fascinating piece of history:

About the fountain

The Victoria Fountain is an octagonal stone structure with eight columns under a tiled roof, designed as a drinking fountain, with copper‐lined basins and outside troughs for horses. The conical roof is topped with a cupola with its well-used four-faced clock and weather vane.

The Morrell family donated the funds for the building to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee of 1897, commissioning E P Warren, architect of the Eastgate Hotel and the Outpatients’ Building at the Radcliffe Infirmary. The Plain has much hidden history and the Fountain stands on the site of the former toll-house (demolished in 1874) which was built in front of the original St Clement’s Church (demolished and rebuilt on Marston Road in 1830) on the site of what is now The Plain roundabout.  

Working in partnership with the City Council to restore the building

OPT worked with the owners Oxford City Council to raise the money to pay for the stone cleaning, roof repairs and repairs and rebuilding of the wind vane and clock, and the redecoration of the timber clock cupola. We were delighted to find the original architects drawings showing details of the missing weather vane, and Graham Parry, who had recently completed the clock at Headington Hill Hall got it working and we painted it all in its original colour.

We raised enough money to introduce architectural lighting and installed a plaque telling something of the history of the building and wider area.

In March 2009 we celebrated the completion of the work by switching on the lights at the Victoria Fountain. We thank our partners Oxford City Council, and those who provided financial and in kind support including Magdalen College, CPRE Oxfordshire BPT and the City’s East Area Parliament.

Need more? If you would like more information about the Victoria Fountain, download this leaflet which we’ve produced with support from Oxford City Council download [1Mb PDF]. Or, please contact us directly.

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