I spent a lot of time as a child in Priory Park.
There was so much to do: we played tennis, swam in the pool, slid down the enormously high (and actually, quite dangerous), slide and mucked about in the bushes.
It was thirsty work but we had the drinking fountain to hand. When we wanted a bit of a spray and splosh we had the other fountain – the big one, in the flowery area of the park, where the older people hung out. So this is a tale of Two Fountains.
The Metcalf Memorial Drinking Fountain
Of course, we children had no idea that this fountain had a name — nor that it was important enough to merit Grade II listed status. The listing tells it like it is: C.1879. Grey granite. Octagonal base; round pedestal with moulding to soffit supports a broad basin at mid-height. Square middle section with trefoil decoration on each face. Above is a squat pyramid with chamfered arises and a shallow pyramidal cap. Inscribed on base ‘THE GIFT OF C.T.P. METCALF 1879’.
The fountain was originally located in Crouch End Broadway, and was donated by Charles Thomas Page Metcalf in 1879 to replace the village pump. In 1895, with increasing urbanisation in Crouch End, it was moved to the park.
St Paul’s Fountain
This impressive fountain arrived here in 1909 when this part of Priory Park was known as Hornsey Pleasure Grounds.
N8 is its second home, as it originally stood outside St Paul’s Cathedral. St Paul’s Fountain is constructed of 50 tons of Lamorna stone from Cornwall, and is a Grade II listed monument. There’s a really interesting article from the Friends of priory Park about the fountain with with images showing how it would have looked at St Paul’s – take a quick look here: http://ariaje.wixsite.com/stpaulsfountain/landscapes
They say: ‘The fountain was working until the mid to late 1960s and some of the older Hornsey residents may remember it as such. At some point it was turned off, filled in with rubble and soil and transformed into a giant planter’. Older residents? – sounds like they’re talking about me!
In the autumn of 2014 the Friends of Priory Park decided to investigate the possibility of getting it working again – I am guessing the cost was prohibitive but we can dream – one day. By the way, if anyone has an interesting story or memory about the fountains or the park the society would love to hear from you.
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