Fountain, Silent Valley, Annalong, Newry, Co. Down

The building is a cast iron water fountain, likely dating from between 1920 and 1939. It is an unusual example, being larger and more robust than typical fountains installed when pressurized mains water became available. Originally located in Belfast, it was installed in its current position in the Silent Valley, close to the reservoir and other listed buildings associated with the water supply, around 1990.

The fountain has an octagonal base and a fluted column, topped with a fluted domical cap. A lion’s head spout is present, alongside a knurled handle on one side and a capped hydrant on the other. A cast inscription, “____FIELD KILMARNOCK”, identifies the manufacturer as Glenfield and Kennedy, a company that produced similar pumps throughout Northern Ireland. The fountain was installed as an ornamental feature and required pressurized mains water to operate. Further information can be found in the Environment Heritage Service report 'Water Pumps in Northern Ireland: A Preliminary Survey' by Fred Hammond, published in January 1997 (Pump no. 78).