Bath Preservation Trust approached Architectural Stone Conservation students from City of Bath College and encouraged their successful submission of a conservation survey to Bath & North East Somerset Council, highlighting the work needed.
After four days of cleaning and conserving the 19th century landmark, the students were greeted by community leaders who thanked them for their hard work.
The Rebecca Fountain was presented by the Bath Temperance Association to then mayor T Jolly and the Corporation of Bath to provide drinking water for the public and promote the non-consumption of alcoholic beverages. The 151-year-old marble drinking fountain, which sits on the north side of Bath Abbey, was built by Rushton Walker and erected in 1861. The students said they hoped their conservation work would secure the fountain’s future for another 150 years.
The nine students used sponges and toothbrushes to scrub off the fountain’s moss, algae and staining, then repaired stonework, filled in cracks and re-pointed the steps.
City of Bath College’s Architectural Stone Conservation students were thanked by Bath & North East Somerset Councillors Roger Symonds and Cherry Beath for cleaning and conserving the Rebecca Fountain in Bath city centre.
Councillor Cherry Beath, Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said the students had done an “absolutely fantastic job.”
She said: “The fountain is a central focal point that has been given the clean it deserves after years of needing it.
“The students have been fantastic, they’ve been working away in all weather, they’ve done a brilliant job.
“It looks really good on the widened pavement, against the back-drop of the Abbey; a real attraction for Bath.”
The conservation project was part funded by the World Heritage Enhancement Fund and included Bath artist Laurence Tindell sprucing up the bronze plaque.