Page 49 - The Tale of Two Fountains

THE TALE OF TWO FOUNTAINS
signed by William Hull with a Neo-classical ashlar front with an impressive Corinthian portico on six columns. It has coursed rubble side walls with buttresses making an imposing building which stands out in Northampton town centre.
It was from this Church that Eustace Carey, born in Paulerspury, Northamptonshire, went as a Bap- tist Missionary to work in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India in 1814. It was hoped that Eustace would share the missionary work of his uncle, Dr. William Carey, at Serampore but instead he chose to work in Calcutta.
Dr. William Carey, also born in Paulerspury, was a well-known patriarch of Indian Missions. An Ori- ental scholar and Social Reformer, he founded the Serampore University, the first degree awarding University in India. He was appointed the first Professor of Sanskrit, Bengali and Marathi languages in the College of Fort William at Calcutta in 1801. His portrait is included amongst the important people associated with the history of Northampton in the decorative arcades of arches in the Main Hall (also known as the Great Hall) of the Guildhall in Northampton3. There is also a historical plaque dedicated to him in the foyer of the new railway station in Northampton. This is yet another interesting connection between Northampton and India.
Returning back to William Atkinson, he was a family man with eight children. Their eldest son was called William Pritchard Atkinson after his grandmother’s family.
William worked at the Eagle Foundry for thirty years. In the 1871 census he is still listed as an art- ist. He was well respected by his colleagues and his employer. It is believed that in addition to the elaborate and imposing Market Square fountain in Northampton, he also designed metalwork such as railings, gates, bollards and lamp standards. His works also included designs for imprinting the apparatus for casting metals and for this a patent application was recorded under his name. Another patent application in William’s name includes “Improvements in the construction of open stoves”.
The London Gazette, of 23rd March 1866, records “William Atkinson of the Eagle Foundry in the Town & County of Northampton, for the invention of Improvements in apparatus in casting in met- als and other materials, and in the means employed for forming such apparatus.”
William Atkinson was thanked by Captain Isaac at the Inauguration ceremony of the Market Square Fountain. The Northampton Herald, (November 14, 1863) reported that “Captain Commandant Isaac said that he had much pleasure in proposing another toast, a toast which he should conceive himself want- ing in his duty if he did not propose. They drank to the health of Mr Barwell as Captain of the 5th Corps of Volunteers, he wished to propose his health in another capacity and to couple with the names of other gentlemen who had been associated with him in the manufacture and erection of the fountain (Hear, hear). Mr Barwell was the founder of the fountain and it must be evident to anyone who looked upon that noble structure how well he had done his duty (cheers). In connection with Mr Barwell’s name, he also wished to mention the name of Mr Atkinson, the modeller and designer of the fountain, of whose talents and ability the structure itself was the best evidence (Hear, hear).”
William Atkinson was well respected by Edward Harrison Barwell and his son Captain William Bar- well, who was running the foundry when the Market Square fountain was made. As noted before,
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