Historic drinking fountain to be relocated

An historic drinking fountain that was gifted to Stoke-on-Trent more than 160 years is set to be relocated.

Donated by industrialist William Baker, the fountain has stood at various sites in the city since it was first installed in Victoria Square in 1861, most recently in City Road.

It was previously removed and put into storage but Stoke-on-Trent City Council is set to install the fountain at its new home on Baker Street.

A planning report said its relocation would "strengthen the visible ties of the Baker family and the Pottery firm to this area".

The fountain will not be connected to the water mains and will be purely decorative.

Potteries Heritage Society agreed with the proposed location but said that it could see "no justification" for its re-installation as a decorative, rather than functioning, fountain, as William Baker intended.

William Baker ran a pottery factory and was also well-known locally for financing a number of the city's buildings, including an infants school, Fenton Athenaeum and the vicarage.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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