The drinking fountain
at Market Deeping

The market place in 1910 with the drinking fountain
just discernible outside the Bull on the right.

A constant supply of fresh water is now taken for granted and we use it without thought of its origins, but in past times householders had no such convenience and often filled buckets and pans from nearby rivers and dykes which was frequently contaminated.

As a result, public drinking fountains to provide a pure supply became popular during the 19th century, the first at Holborn in London in 1859 which was soon being used by thousands of people daily. Others followed around the country, often of grand design and dedicated to a local worthy, but always with the intention of providing a refreshing drink to passers-by.

In 1906, the parish council at Market Deeping commissioned the construction of a drinking fountain from John Elwes Noble, an experienced artesian well-borer from nearby Thurlby, who also had a reputation as a water diviner. He carried out drillings for many local authorities, industrial firms and country mansions in the area such as the vicarage at West Deeping, sending details of the strata and location of every bore drilled to the Geological Society in London which assisted them in their compilation of the geological survey of England and Wales.

The Market Deeping borehole was sunk in the middle of the main road and a large crowd gathered to see the first water which had been located at a depth of 121 feet gushing to the surface at an estimated rate of 1,000 gallons an hour.

The bore was sealed ready for use and a small public drinking fountain subsequently erected on the spot was unveiled before a large crowd by the Member of Parliament for Stamford, Lord John Cecil, who was entertained after the ceremony at a public lunch held at the Bull Inn nearby.

The water from this bore was so pure that many people who believed in its health giving properties drank a pint of it daily while several national newspapers reported that as a result of this beneficial supply, Market Deeping was a place where you could live to be 100.

Unfortunately, the fountain became a victim of progress and was removed to make way for additional car parking spaces fifty years ago although the water located by Noble continues to supply the town through the modern piped distribution system maintained by Anglian Water, so enabling residents to fill a kettle or take a shower at the turn of a tap.

The official opening of the drinking fountain in 1906 although the large crowd that gathered has obscured the view of the ceremony.