Fountain of misfortune
The Hubert Fountain may look at home in Victoria
Park - it has been here since 1912 - but it was not built for this
purpose.
It was originally exhibited in the Second Grand
International Exhibition in London, some 60 years before it came to
the park. Following the exhibition it was purchased by Mr Erle Drax
of Olantigh House near Wye.
Unfortunately
the house burnt down in 1903. George Harper, a local art dealer,
then purchased the fountain. In 1912 he donated it to Ashford Urban
District Council and it was installed in the park.
But
misfortune was about to strike again. Just three weeks after the
grand opening of the fountain, Harper threw himself under a London
train and died.
