Philatelic Photograph: Montefiore Drinking Fountain - Bridgetown, Barbados

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Montefiore Drinking Fountain
Bridgetown, Barbados

Topic: Philatelic Photographs

GPS: N13° 06.000; W059° 36.910

Quick Description: 

The Montefiore Drinking Fountain is locate on Coleridge Street near the main library in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Long Description:

The Montefiore Drinking Fountain was once a public drinking fountain but has ceases to serve this function, yet it is still called a fountain. There is no water associated with the structure. For that reason it is more properly called the Montefiore Monument. 

The original highly ornate drinking fountain was donated to the city of Bridgetown, in 1865, by Jewish businessman John Montefiore. It was a memorial to his father, John Castello Montefiore, who had been one of the first casualties of a cholera epidemic in 1854. 

John Castello Montefiore was a leading merchant who operated a wholesale and retail business in Bridgetown. He was also the owner of Neils Plantation. 

The Montefiore Drinking Fountain was opened on November 02, 1865 and was widely acclaimed for its architectural beauty. On each side of the fountain are bas relief sculptures representing the ideals of Justice, Fortitude, Temperance, and Prudence.

The memorial fountain was originally located in Beckwith Place, until it was moved to its present location in 1940.

The stamp is part of a 16 stamp set issued by Barbados on May 4, 1970 depicting various sights in Barbados.