Page 39 - The Tale of Two Fountains

THE TALE OF TWO FOUNTAINS
in honour of Sir Seymour Fitzgerald, the then Governor of Bombay. A plaque, beautifully framed with curlicues, identical to Northampton’s Isaac Fountain was placed between the jambs which says
‘Erected AD 1867 in Honour of the Right Honourable Sir Seymour Fitzgerald, KCSI, The Gov- ernor of Bombay by the Esplanade Committee. A.K. Dellasis, President, A.T. Crawford and K. Mungharam – Members.’
It is understood from articles in the Times of India that the Fitzgerald fountain with its central light column is 45 feet high. The base is 19 feet wide with decorated jambs and the column rests on a cut stone plinth, stepped all around.
Mr Arthur Crawford (1835–1911) was the first Municipal Commissioner and Collector of the city and made some notable improvements in the city, particularly introducing gas lights to light up the streets at night. He was known for his elastic budgeting techniques. Mr Crawford was keen to see a light column in the Metro Cinema area which would enhance this public realm with its spectacular design and so approached Mr Rustomjee who it is believed agreed to fund it straightaway.
A number of iron founders exhibited a wide range of ironwork at the Exhibition held in London in 1851 (the Great Exhibition) with their catalogues6, pattern books and samples. We did find some references in volumes 1 & 2 of the Great Exhibition Catalogues of Barwell & Co. exhibiting their products at the Great Exhibition. It seems that the erection of cast iron gas lamps and fountains was very popular during this period because of the
durability of the material.
An article in the Times of India of 12th March 1868 explains that “The fountain erected opposite the Money Institution is now ready for use and has been made over to the charge of the Executive En- gineer to the Municipality7. The erection was en- trusted to Mr S.A. Musgrave, Contractor, who has completed it in about two months and a half under the supervision of Mr Aitken. The work of painting and decorating the fountain has been beautifully done by Mr J.C. Rees of Grant Road. The total cost including the cost of erection is estimated at Rupees 14,000.”
It is said that the fountain with its prominent globe light on the top, lit up with gas, gave an early indication of the land to ships approaching the Bombay Harbour before the Prongs Light House was built in 1875 at the southern-most tip of the city. In the 1880s, the lamp used to be turned off after midnight to avoid confusion for ships entering the Bombay Port.
Dedication Plaque, Fitzgerald fountain
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