Old fountain could be listed by the DoE

Last month, we backed a campaign by local woman Margaret Peacock, who called for help from the community to restore the fountain, that dates back to the 1870’s.

Causeway Coast and Glens DUP councillor Trevor Clarke has revealed this week that he contacted the DoE about the fountain.

“There is no doubt that this fountain is part of history, and it should be restored,” said cllr Clarke.

“After reading about the campaign I spoke to the Chief Executive of the Council and the DoE about the fountain.”

In correspondence with cllr Clarke, the DoE’s Senior Conservation Architect, Alan Turkington said that the fountain had been inspected back in July 2013.

The letter stated: ‘It was inspected in July 2013, and agreed that it warrants a full and detailed survey.

This will now be carried out in the next two months, and we will notify you of the Department’s evaluation when this has been carried out.’

Causeway Coast and Glens Chief Executive David Jackson told The Times that Council is ‘looking at options’ with a view to helping to restore the fountain.

According to historians, a bore hole was sunk into Captain Street in 1870 and spring water was found at 80 feet.

To back up this theory, other photographs taken around that time show the fountain in place on the well-known Coleraine street.