Drinking fountain

This is an 18th and 19th century drinking fountain, remodelled in 1920 by Duncan Drummond, a local stonemason. It also serves as a war memorial. The fountain comprises an octagonal stone trough with a central square stone monolith surmounted by a plain stone cross.

A wooden plank door is set into the west side, with the inscription "BUILT MARCH 1920" above in raised lettering, accompanied by decorative embellishments forming a round arch with a prominent keystone. The south side bears the inscription "A PINT OF COLD WATER THREE TIMES A DAY IS THE SUREST WAY TO KEEP THE DOCTOR AWAY. WHOSO THIRSTETH LET HIM COME HITHER AND DRINK", with similar decorative embellishments above. A water tap is located on the east side, along with the inscription "ERECTED IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO MADE THE GREAT SACRIFICE IN THE WAR 1914 1918", with the initials JR below and more decorative embellishments above. The north side is inscribed "IF YOU WANT TO BE HEALTHY WEALTHY AND STOUT USE PLENTY OF COLD WATER INSIDE AND OUT. LET ANIMAL AND MAN DRINK FREELY", again with matching decoration. The trough is currently filled with earth and flowers.

Prior to the First World War, the structure was a drinking fountain with the trough and pillar in place, but lacking the cross and inscriptions. A street lamp topped the pillar at the turn of the century, which originally appeared to have a plainer top. The rebuilding work was financed by Mr John Rayner J.P. of Ripon, whose family had connections in Nidderdale and were Methodists with strong temperance beliefs. A second memorial to Victory was also built in the village.