This fountain was a surprise to me as although I have lived in Folkestone for many years, I had never been aware of this beautiful piece of Victorian creativity before.
This fountain was erected by public subscription in 1897 to commemorate Sidney Cooper Weston, a gentleman of Folkestone, a Christian Philanthropist and a gospel temperance advocate.
Sidney Cooper Weston was born in 1842, and became a junior partner of the photographic firm of Lambert Weston & Son (of his father) and was in charge of the Folkestone branch at 23 Sandgate Road until his death in 1893. Like other members of the Weston Family, Sidney was a member of The Society Of Friends (Quakers), and married his cousin Edith Jane Weston (daughter of Folkestone photographer Jasper Weston).
An obituary published to mark his death summarised his achievements as a professional photographer who's fame and ability reached far and wide, and he numbered among his patrons members of the Royal Family and many of the nobility.
After his death, his wife and children continued the family business and in the 1901 census, Edith is recorded as a photographer, as was their son Sidney Lambert Weston.
The fountain which originally stood at Albion Villas, was used as a public drinking fountain until it was moved to its present location around 1920, when the War Memorial to the dead of WWI was built at the top of the Road of Rememberance. The fountain was restored in 1981 by the New Folkestone Society, but again is in need of some TLC.