Interesting Places I've Photographed
Montefiore Drinking Fountain
Bridgetown, Barbados
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.
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