Cowdenbeath landmark went but name lingers on!

It was actually only in existence for 31 years but everyone in town still regularly namechecks it! Yes on that day in 1928 the Cowdenbeath Fountain, at the junction of Broad Street and the High Street was removed - not during the War as some would have you believe.

Local Cowdenbeath history guru David Allan said: "In the 1920s, more and more traffic was appearing on the roads to compete with the trams on their fixed rails. Trams and private bus companies battled for custom. "The Council frankly found the Fountain was becoming more of an obstruction than a boon. When the water was switched on the Fountain acted as a rendezvous for hordes of children. In 1922, the Council had tightened the springs in the taps so it was more difficult for children to press the buttons to let the water flow. Two years later, the Council approached the Tramway Company to suggest a scheme whereby the Fountain be converted into a shelter and public conveniences – the Tram people weren’t interested in contributing.

"Thus as road congestion increased, it was reported in November 1928 that, ‘An old landmark is to be removed from Cowdenbeath — the fountain that stands at the junction of High Street and Broad Street. At a meeting of the Cowdenbeath Town Council it was unanimously agreed that it be removed and stored to be available for use elsewhere when an occasion might arise. The Burgh Surveyor stated that it would be expedient to replace the fountain by a pillar with the necessary lights and signs for the direction of traffic, and he submitted details of such an erection, the estimated cost being £35. The fountain was placed there as a gift to the town by the late Provost Mungall in the year of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee’.

On December 12 1928 the Fountain was dismantled and removed from the High Street after a 31 year lifespan. It seems no occasion ever came about where it was re-erected. Its remnants were in the Town Council’s yard for a number of years but over time they seem to have vanished. That said the trams of the Dunfermine & District Tramway also soon disappeared from the streets of Cowdenbeath – they stopped running in 1937 after having travelled 31 million miles and having transported 150 million passengers during their own short 28 year lifetime.

Added David: "The Fountain as aforesaid dated back to 1897 when Queen Victoria became the first British Monarch to celebrate 60 years on the throne. Her Diamond Jubilee was a major event across the country, no less so in Cowdenbeath.

"The highlight of the Cowdenbeath celebrations on 23 June 1897 was the unveiling of the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Fountain at the junction of Broad Street and the High Street. The whole town was en-fete with flags and bunting adorning most of the shops. At the Cross, there were 4 arches bearing the legends – ‘1837 – Victoria – 1897,’ ‘God Save the Queen’, ‘Long Live our Provost’, and ‘Prosperity to our Burgh’.

"At 2.30pm the children of Foulford School marched to the Cross led by the Kelty Brass Band playing ‘Men of Harlech’ and then they were joined by the children from Broad Street. By 3pm, there was a crowd of 6,000 as Provost Henry Mungall stood up to address the assembled throng. "He spoke of the British Empire and of the time Queen Victoria had passed through Cowdenbeath more than half a century before. In order to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee, he had decided to present the town with a Jubilee Fountain which he hoped would be both useful and acceptable as a fitting memento of our good Queen. The crowd then gave three cheers and sang the national anthem.

"Baillie James Laing accepted the gift of the Fountain on behalf of the Burgh. He referred to the advancement of Cowdenbeath in the 27 year period since Mr Mungall had arrived to be manager of the Cowdenbeath Coal Company. He then asked Mrs Mungall to accept the gift of a silver goblet from the Council and she proceeded to partake of the first drink from the fountain.

"The children then marched off for games at the Station Park whilst an adjournment was made to a banquet at the Co-operative Hall. 200 guests were entertained to a cake and wine banquet by Mr Mungall. The purveying was in the hands of Alex Campbell of the Commercial Hotel. There was more speechifying and toasts to her Majesty, the Empire and the Armed forces. Mr Stenhouse of Dunfermline proposed a toast to the Town and Trade of Cowdenbeath. Archie Hodge then asked the Provost to accept an address on behalf of the traders of the town.

"He, in his couthy manner, recalled the growth of Cowdenbeath which had grown threefold in population since Mr Mungall came to Cowdenbeath. 7 or 8 of a family used to live in a one roomed house way back then now you had families of 2 or 3 looking for three or four rooms! Mr Mungall of course was now selling coal at about twice the price of 27 years earlier!’

"The fountain itself was George Smith & Co.’s design number 5, and was manufactured by that firm at the Sun Foundry in Glasgow. It was advertised as 14 feet 6 inches to the base of the centre lamp. The ogee style base supported a single pedestal structure seated on a two tiered plinth. The central block was edged with rope detail. Four pilasters framed decorative inlaid panels. Four demi-lune basins were flanked by drinking cups suspended on chains. Centre and above each panel, a lion mascaron adorned the capital. A solid domed roof supported a lantern finial with two additional lanterns on consoles. Customization of this design was made to the dome in Cowdenbeath with the addition of four dedication roundels with a left facing silhouette of Queen Victoria’s head. The original lanterns were upgraded in 1913 to provide for better lighting.

"I doubt now if there is anyone left alive who had a drink of the water out of the Cowdenbeath Fountain. However, every Cowdenbeath citizen to this day knows where someone will be if you say, ‘I’ll meet you at the Fountain’. "