Photo above: Taken circa 1900, with landlord John Gibson wearing a hat.
In the 1901 census, John is living with wife Elizabeth and a visitor, Fanny Cockshaw. Earlier landlords were Edward Robinson c1874, his son John 1887 followed by Johns wife Fanny late 1890’s.
The Fountain seems to date from 1850s to early 1900s.
Why named the Fountain? There was a fountain erected in Highcross Street circa 1859, but the beer house seems to predate that (perhaps under a different name) Ann Wood the first landlady of the Fountain I can find 1869 so it does seem to suggest it was named after the newly erected fountain. . Early in the 18th century, many Roman remains were found around here – the nearby Roman Baths and Jewry Wall for example. At the top of Highcross Street, the remains of a Roman ‘Water House’ was unearthed.
The Fountain stood on the top end of Highcross Street, same side but over High Street from the Highcross Tavern. It is pictured above, (now long closed) to the right of the lamppost, circa 1965, prior to its demolition to make way for the new wider road that runs in front of St Nicholas Circle.
The view from High St corner, 1950s, showing Upper Highcross Street. The Fountain is fourth from the left. The man is standing in St Nicholas Street (now St Nicolas Circle), and the corner shop, Cases, was soon to be demolished. Totally unrecognisable today, Jubilee Square now occupies the site.
