Drinking fountain immediately north-east of the Church of the Holy Trinity

Drinking fountain, erected in 1861 to the designs of SS Teulon (1812-1873).

MATERIALS: carved Portland stone with recessed polished granite panels and marble columns.

DETAILS: the fountain is of neo-Gothic design and comprises a large square pedestal with recessed granite panels on three of the four faces, which carry inscriptions. Below each panel is a moulded fountain bowl set upon a short column and capital bearing a cross on the shaft. Set into the fourth face of the pedestal, facing the Church of the Holy Trinity, there is a timber panelled door under a three-pointed arch. Upon the pedestal sits a finely carved canopy consisting of a crocketed pinnacle and gables supported on four marble columns with floral capitals and finials above. The top stage of the spire is missing and within the canopy, there are denuded figures including a sculpture of Jesus. The partial remains of the finials sit upon three of the four corners of the pedestal.

The inscriptions on the three recessed granite panels read (north face): ‘ERECTED 1861 BY SUBSCRIPTION BY THE INHABITANTS OF HASTINGS AND ST LEONARDS INCLUDING THE PENCE OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS EDUCATED IN THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS’; (north-east face): ‘JESUS SAID WHOSOEVER DRINKETH OF THIS WATER SHALL THIRST AGAIN BUT WHOSOEVER DRINKETH OF THE WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM SHALL NEVER THIRST’; (south-east face): ‘TO SARAH COUNTESS OF WALDEGRAVE IN GRATEFUL COMMEMORATION OF THE CONSTANT SUPPORT AFFORDED BY HER TO THE RELIGIOUS AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS OF THE BOROUGH AND NEIGHBOURHOOD’.