Page 28 - The Tale of Two Fountains

THE TALE OF TWO FOUNTAINS
South Bridge showing the Eagle Foundry
Mayoral Shields Guildhall, Northampton
In 1853, E.H. Barwell’s son, William Harrison (WH) Barwell became a partner and took responsibil- ity for the day to day management of the foundry. He was the only son who followed him into the business. This gave his father, E.H Barwell, more time to get involved in other civic and political activities as many industrialists of that period did.
It is interesting to see the layout of the Eagle foundry buildings on the Goad Insurance Map of April 18993. The buildings consisted of bricks and stones, timber and glass structures3A.
E.H. Barwell was a Liberal Party supporter like many other leading businessmen in Northampton and became the Mayor of Northampton for three consecutive years from 1842 to 1844. His Mayoral Shields can be seen in the Mayor’s Gallery at the Guildhall in Northampton. It is worth noting that he was proposed for the Mayor’s position by his former partner, Thomas Hagger. Barwell in fact welcomed Queen Victoria when she visited the town in 1844 on her way to Burghley House in Stam- ford for a short stay4. He also did some notable work as a Justice of the Peace for the Borough of Northampton and was elected the Chief Magistrate three times.
The three decorative heads of arches within the western entrance to the Guildhall are devoted to sculptured groups showing three Royal visits to Northampton, Queen Elizabeth I (1564), Charles I (1634) and Queen Victoria (1844). The group over the entrance arch (illustrated on page 19) shows
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