Napier Fountain
In 1863 the fountain in the image below was installed near the Fore Street entrance
to
Devonport Park,
a few metres west of the lower lodge. It is commonly called the
Napier Fountain or the Napier Memorial. It was erected in honour of Admiral Sir
Charles Napier (1786-1860) and paid for by royal marines and sailors who respected
the work he carried out on their behalf; they each gave up one day's pay.
Early 20th century postcard showing the fountain and pretty memorial gardens, looking
west.
Admiral Napier believed in looking after his men and campaigned consistently for
naval reform, to improve their working conditions and to end the floggings and press-gangs
- so much so that he earned the nickname 'The Sailors Champion'. When he became
Member of Parliament for Southwark, in 1855, he was known to have fearlessly criticised
the admiralty and naval policy.
A public house in Fore Street was known to have been named after Napier in the 1850s,
the Napier Inn [1]. The Fore Street public house closed in the late 1880s and
was replaced by the new Agnes Weston's Royal Sailors' Rest.
Although Devonport sailors were instrumental in obtaining recognition for Admiral
Napier, and fund-raising for the memorial was initiated here, it is not specifically
Devonport-related, rather, it is a national memorial, since Napier was a well-known
naval officer and his achievement's were valued nation-wide, and across the entire
navy.
Occasionally, the pretty garden surrounding the Fountain is referred to as the Napier
Memorial Garden (although, there is another memorial at the far end of this garden,
the
Galatea Memorial ).
Until recently it was a Devonport tradition for wedding groups to have their formal
photos taken in this garden, following a marriage ceremony at nearby St Aubyn
church, but marriages are no longer carried out at the church, it was converted to
a library in 2011.
The next three images are different views of the memorial I took during 2001, when it was brightly painted.
Above: The poor condition of the memorial by 2005, from which it was finally rescued and repaired.
During the 20th century the structure fell into disrepair and several of the artifacts/statuettes disappeared. The basin
was removed by museum staff around 2005/2006, for protection. The whole structure was finally restored in 2011.
The fountain has a paved area surrounding it, if you'd like to visit and walk around.
There is a raised circular basin from which rises a pedestal. This originally supported
a tazza and a figure of a boy holding a fish, now removed and in storage, to be replaced soon. It is
constructed from painted terracotta.
Fountain Plaques and Ornaments
Four plaques are inserted around the base of the fountain,
these list the names of the Devonport ships and Naval divisions that subscribed
to the memorial.
One of the remaining vases decorating the circular base of the fountain, as it looked in 2001.
Four vases were seated around the fountain sometime during the 20th century (probably after WW2), taking the
place of the four original mermen.
Restoration 2011
A grant of £80,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund paid for the 2011 restoration which included
reinstatement of the merman figurines, reconnection of the water and repairs to the pedestal
and bowl. Missing stonework was recreated from photos, by historic monuments
specialist Andy Mitchell. (Andy Mitchel also restored the Doris Gun in Devonport Park).
Toward the end of August 2011 the fountain was switched on again by Councillor Mike Leaves and Mike Gallagher, Chairman of the
Friends of Devonport Park.
The Napier Fountain is one of two that were restored
as part of the park’s £5.3 million improvement programme, funded by Plymouth City Council, New Deals for Community (NDC) Funds
and receipt of the grant from the Heritage and BIG Lottery.
The Napier Fountain being restored to its original condition.
I took the above image during August 2011, a few days before the water was once
again switched on by Mike Gallagher (Chairman of the Friends of Devonport Park) and
Councillor Mike Leaves. Four of the mermen statuettes are back in their places, and the garish orange paint is gone, revealing the lovely stone underneath.
[1] from Chris Robinson's 'Pub' series in the
Herald - 24 April, 2009,
The
Pub. The Napier Inn