Firstly can I say that my picture on the bottom was taken a little while ago, I will explain more about that a little later on. We are in the town of Nailsworth, and not far from my football club stadium at Forest Green Rovers.
The old photographer is standing in Fountain Street, which is an obvious name as you can see a beautiful water fountain in the old photograph. It was made and erected in 1862 after the death of William Smith Esquire, an admired lawyer of the town.
It was moved in 1938 to Old Market in the town and when traffic increased, it moved further along the Old Market in 1963, this again was for road widening. It was then subjected to vandals breaking the mouldings off the top of this beautiful fountain; luckily the bits were found and kept safe.
A few years ago it was agreed to return it to near its original position in Fountain Street, its third move for this big fountain. It now stands proud fully restored, but back from the pavement. Look closely at my capture and you can see a shadow of the fountain across the pavement.
As you can see there have been several changes made, mostly due to modern traffic needs, this is now a major road going south to Bath.
A much bigger & more important junction. I can see the shadow of the fountain…..so glad it was saved. William Smith Esquire must have had no stain on his character or they would be knocking it down again!
