Secret Ironbridge: Water, water everywhere

In the early 1800’s there was no mains water supply in Ironbridge and so many just used the water from the river Severn for drinking and cooking.

Profit from sales of this image will go to the ‘Return Bartlett Fountain to Ironbridge square’ GoFundMe page

Unfortunately, there was no sewage system either – and that just flowed straight into the same river. Unsurprisingly, this led to deaths from cholera and other diseases, so widespread that a mass grave was created for the victims (see Secret Ironbridge: A tale of two churches).

In 1823, the Reverend John Bartlett became the vicar in nearby Buildwas, and the estate in which he lived had its own drinking well. Concerned about the deaths in Ironbridge he persuaded industrialist Abraham Darby IV to install pipes to bring fresh water into the town from this well.

After his death in 1861, his widow had a 15 foot high red granite drinking fountain erected the Ironbridge Square in his memory.

Unfortunately, in the 1960’s, the Telford Development Corporation decided that a bus stop was more important and relegated the fountain to the back of a small car park, where it remains today.

The Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale Civic Society are actively trying to get the fountain rightfully replaced in the Square, and are attempting to raise funds to go towards the estimate £40,000 required by Telford & Wrekin Council to do so. You can donate towards this cause on their Go Fund Me page.