Unique exhibition opens in The Fountain

A THOUGHT-PROVOKING exhibition has opened to the public in The Fountain in the Cityside.

In incredible detail ‘The Fountain Story’ charts the life and times of the residents of the area, beginning 1900 and moving forward decade by decade through the 20th Century.

Under the umbrella of the Bob Harte Memorial Trust, the exhibition opened at 2.30pm at Thiepval Gallery on George’s Street and tells the story of this historic area of the City beginning in 1900, when the greater Fountain area was composed of the lands of Wapping that lay behind Bishop Street Without and the Jail, Wapping Lane, Carlisle Road, Ferryquay Street, the Diamond, Upper Magazine Street, Palace Lane and Bishop Street Withon.

Sepia toned pictures of the age reflect the age, when women at work were heavily engaged in the linen industries, employed i the many shirt factories that existed.

Indeed female work opportunities were plentiful at the time as there was much demandfor shop assistants and female servants, while the men also worked in the factories as administrators, floor supervisors, mechanics, cutters, storemen and in maintenance departments.

Men also dominated the professions of the time, in commerce and the fire brigade, as well as tradesmen, dockers and labourers, and many more were in the Armed Forces, most notably the Navy and Army as well as the Merchant navy.

The following decade focused on the rise of militant socialism and the question of Home Role, which eventually led to the breakdown of the concord which had existed in The Fountain between the Protestant and Catholic families of the area, and the influence of the War is also recorded.

Living in harsh times from 1910 to 1919, there was only occasional escape from the drudgery of life, and these moments could be found in Fountain Street with the coming of the new cinema - and five public houses. Church worship was inspirational and the Opera House were good distractions as well, and the bleak existence of residents was also punctuated with concerts staged by churches in the area and other institutions.

Royalty an the fluctuating fortunes of the Royal Family, including the Abdication and the subsequent elevation and crowning of the Duke and Duchess of York were celebrated in The Fountain, and the tradition of marking Royal occasions has continued to this day. Understandably, the exhibition features the Royal visits of the 1950s and 1970s are given due prominence.

The dark days of ‘the Toubles’ are marked, as well as brighter subject matter, such as the influence of the Churchill Band, which acts as a counterbalance to some of the more painful imagery contained in the exhibition.

Worth a closer visit, the exhibition is open to all, and for further details telephone 028 7127 9928.

The Fountain Story was supported by funding from Awards For All, the Local Strategy partnership, the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, the DSD and Derry City Council.