The Hubert Fountain

The Hubert Fountain was created to showcase the work of the French 'Val d'Osne foundry' at the International Exhibition of 1862. It was exhibited in the Royal Horticultural Society Gardens in South Kensington, London and was said to be a fine monumental work, The fountain was eventually purchased by Major Erle-Drax for his house in Olanugh near Wye. He paid £3,000 which is £405,000 today., In 1910, local antiques dealer and philanthropist Mr Harper bought the fountain from Erle-Drax. He wanted to offer it as a gift to Ashford, the town he loved. However the Council initially refused this gift as the station costs were too high. Following a period of negotiation, Mr Harper agreed to pay for the installation on the condition it was turned on every 23rd July to celebrate his birthday. It has lived in Victoria Park in Ashford ever since and has been restored twice by Ashford Borough Council: first in 1977 to mark the Queen's Silver Jubilee, and again in 1998 following an award from the National Lottery Fund., Did you know? , Mr Harper believed that there was originally a musical device inside the fountain, including a set of sixty-four water-activated whistles. This was recently proved to be a fantastical idea by artist Emily Peasgood, who created the musical work Fantasy Fountain in response., Did you know? , There was a request made in 1966 to install a roller-skating rink round the outside of the fountain., Did you know? , In 1950, there was a proposal to put an aquarium in the base of the fountain.