View report page

31
VAUXHALL PARK.
It being found necessary to remove the house left standing in this
park, formerly occupied by the late Professor Fawcett, M.P., it was
resolved by the Vestry that the old materials should be sold by
auction, and the proceeds appropriated to the erection on the site
of a Memorial to Mr. Fawcett. The materials realized a net sum
of £75 10s and application was made to Sir Henry Doulton to
ascertain whether he could supply a Fountain made of his ware,
and it was found that Sir Henry Doulton had on hand a very fine
Fountain made of Doulton ware. Although the Fountain was
probably of the value of £250, Sir Henry Doulton very generously
agreed to accept the above sum of £75 10s. for it. Sir Henry
Doulton intimated that he bad himself thought that a Statue, to be
placed in Vauxhall Park, would be a suitable way of perpetuating
the memory of Mr. Fawcett, and. if acceptable to the Vestry, Sir
Henry expressed his willingness to place a Statue in the park at
his own expense.
The Vestry resolved to accept the offer of Sir Henry Doulton
to sell the Fountain for the sum of £75 10s., and at the same time
to express its thanks to him, not only for generously parting with
the Fountain at so small a sum, but also for his great liberality
in offering to present the proposed Statue to the Parish.
On 2nd August, 1892, the Fountain was formally opened by
the Chairman of the General Purposes Committee.
On 7th June, 1893, the Memorial Statue was unveiled by His
Grace The Archbishop of Canterbury in the presence of a
distinguished company.